[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1757-E1758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF J. C. EHRLICH CO., INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM HOLDEN

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 10, 2003

  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to 
bring an authentic American success story to your attention.
  The officers and coworkers of the J. C. Ehrlich Company are 
celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of their company in 
1928. The company's founder, Julius C. Ehrlich emigrated to this 
country from Germany at the age of 17, eventually moving to Reading, 
Pennsylvania where he had a job as a manufacturer's representative 
selling insecticides and sprayers. In 1928, there were very few pest 
control companies in the country and none in Berks County. Mr. 
Ehrlich's sales were primarily to businesses who would apply the 
materials themselves.
  One day he called one of his customers, a department store in 
Reading, who had not used the material he had sold them during his last 
sales visit. When he learned that the custodian had been unable to 
apply the material, Mr. Ehrlich, wanting to satisfy his customer and 
not wanting to lose a sale, offered to apply the material himself. At 
that moment Mr. Ehrlich, who was 56, founded the pest control service 
organization now known as the J. C. Ehrlich Company. Even today, as the 
company celebrates its 75th anniversary, the management and coworkers 
look back at that moment as inspiring their current success by using 
the same principles that Mr. Ehrlich employed at that department 
store--Initiative, Ingenuity and Exceeding Customer Expectations.
  So while others were contemplating retirement, Julius C. Ehrlich was 
developing a new business. Even more impressive is the fact that the 
formative years of Mr. Ehrlich's business were during the early 1930's 
and the Great Depression.
  By 1939, four of Mr. Ehrlich's nephews had immigrated to this country 
in order to avoid the conditions facing them as Jews in Nazi Germany. 
In the great traditions of many Americans, these four nephews, Arthur 
Hammel, Simon Hammel, Alex Ehrlich and Victor Hammel, worked 
tirelessly. (Unfortunately, Victor Hammel, for whom the company's 
current President is named, passed away in the early 1940's.) Their 
work ethic is underscored by.the story of their arrival in late 
December 1937. Without knowing the English language, and without any 
knowledge of pest control, they started work just five days later. When 
questioned as to why they waited five whole days from the time they got 
off the ship to the time they started, Simon Hammel was quick to 
mention that they lost several days because of a weekend and New Year's 
Day. Otherwise, they would have started work more quickly. The hard 
work and determination of this second generation began the expansion of 
the J. C. Ehrlich Company beyond its Berks County roots. Its second 
district office was established in Pottsville. The third and fourth 
offices were in Lancaster and Allentown.
  Today the third generation of Ehrlich family management includes 
three cousins, Victor Hammel, Robert Hammel and Richard Yashek.
  The company's owners are quick to point out that it is the dedication 
of its coworkers that has made J. C. Ehrlich a premier company in its 
various businesses. In fact, the company states its core belief in its 
Vision Statement: ``Above all else, we value long-lasting relationships 
with coworkers and customers.'' Among its current 1,100 coworkers are 
many who have reaffirmed that sentiment by working for J. C. Ehrlich 
for 15 years, 20 years, 25 years and more. Today, in addition

[[Page E1758]]

to providing pest control services, the company provides termite 
control, bird control, vegetation management, and bioremediation 
services. The company also continues Mr. Ehrlich's very first business 
through a division known as Ehrlich Distribution, which sells products 
to control pest and vegetation.
  As J. C. Ehrlich celebrates its 75th anniversary, there is much to be 
proud of. Consider these accomplishments:
  Named as one of the ``Top 25 Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania'';
  Named ``America's Finest Pest Control Company'' by Pest Control 
Technology Magazine;
  Has grown to become the largest privately-owned pest control company 
in North America;
  Has 39 local offices servicing 8 Mid-Atlantic States and the District 
of Columbia; and
  Most importantly, 1,100 loyal coworkers providing more than 1 million 
services per year.
  Mr. Speaker, these accomplishments are the proud results of J. C. 
Ehrlich's culture. This culture can be better understood by knowing how 
the company's coworkers are celebrating their 75th anniversary. Instead 
of a major corporate celebration, Ehrlich's 39 offices decided that 
they would volunteer their time and effort to the local communities 
that had supported them through the years. With the company's 
encouragement, coworkers in each district office selected a local 
charitable organization that they could contribute time to as a group. 
On the selected day, the office closed and everyone worked as a team to 
provide community service. In total, this represents approximately 
8,000 hours of time Ehrlich coworkers have donated to their local 
communities. I am pleased to present to you the civic contributions 
that the men and women of J. C. Ehrlich have made to their communities 
during this, their 75th anniversary:


                              Pennsylvania

       Allentown--Girl Scout Camp Clean-up.
       Clarion--Cleaned park.
       Erie--Worked at a soup kitchen for at-risk children.
       Harrisburg--Riverbank Cleanup.
       Hatfield--Dyed Easter Eggs and assembled baskets for the 
     needy.
       Hazleton--Cleaned up a local park.
       Johnstown--Donated time to local thrift shop and soup 
     kitchen.
       Lancaster--Did clean-up and landscaping for area parks.
       Lebanon--Helped to prepare for cancer fundraiser.
       Lewistown--Worked on a Habitat for Humanity House.
       Philadelphia--Worked at a local soup kitchen.
       Pittsburgh--Cleaned up at a local zoo.
       Pottstown--Yard clean up for area senior citizens.
       Pottsville--Cleaned up a local park.
       Reading Pest Control--Riverbank cleanup.
       Reading Accounting--Children's Home of Reading.
       Reading Administration--Reading Hospital.
       Reading Customer Service Center--Volunteered at a local 
     festival.
       Reading Audit--Distributing food at Salvation Army.
       Reading VMS--Cleaned up a local park.
       Reading Technical Trainers--Girl Scout Camp Clean Up.
       Reading MIS--Cleaned up at local park, delivered meals on 
     wheels, donated special computer to needy child.
       Scranton--Delivered food for Meals on Wheels.
       Shamokin--Planted flowers in downtown area.
       State College--Helping United Way Day of Caring.
       Stroudsburg--Cleaning up local highways.
       West Chester--Cleaned up a local park.
       Wilkes Barre--Cleaned up a local park.
       Williamsport--Cleaned up an old museum.
       York--Clean up and landscaping at a local park.


                               New Jersey

       Avenel--Shoreline cleanup.
       Bergen County--Donated pest control services to local 
     museum.
       Flemington--Fixed and helped to remodel homes for needy 
     residents.
       Vineland--Cleaned up a park.


                                New York

       Binghamton--Worked in a soup kitchen.
       Hudson Valley--Beach clean up at a wild life sanctuary.
       Middletown--Worked on houses for Habitat for Humanity.


                                Delaware

       Delmarva--Worked at a nursing home.
       Wilmington--Sorted clothing at a local clothing bank.


                                Maryland

       Baltimore--Helped build homes for Chesapeake Habitat.
       Gaithersburg--Cleaned up a park.
       Hagerstown--Spent time with Senior Citizens at a local 
     center.
       Millersville--Participated in United Way Day of Caring.


                                Virginia

       Newington--Served food and cleaned up at a men's shelter.

  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have several J. C. Ehrlich offices 
throughout my Congressional District. On a personal level, my family 
has known the Hammel Family for at least two generations. My father, 
Joseph Holden and the father of the current owners, Simon Hammel, were 
friends in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. I am pleased to be able to 
continue that tradition of friendship. I congratulate them on their 75 
years of success and wish them the best for the future.

                          ____________________