[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 20 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO KANSAS CIVIC PHILANTHROPIST RON DEFFENBAUGH

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                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2008

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my 
friend, Ron Deffenbaugh, of Shawnee, Kansas, the founder of Deffenbaugh 
Industries.
  Recently, the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce presented its 2007 Citizen 
of the Year Award to Ron Deffenbaugh, who moved to the Kansas City area 
at age 9 and started a trash collection business with one truck at age 
15 in 1957. Since that modest beginning, Deffenbaugh Industries became 
the largest privately owned refuse firm in the Midwest, including the 
Johnson County landfill, Deffenbaugh Disposal Service, Shawnee Rock and 
Johnny on the Spot. Deffenbaugh sponsors annual city events, including 
Old Shawnee Days, Fields for Freedom, Tidy Town, Shawnee Christmas 
Around Town,, and the Great Grillers barbecue competition. In 2007, 
Deffenbaugh sold his company to DLJ Merchant Banking Partners.
  At the conclusion of the annual Chamber dinner, Deffenbaugh 
Industries President Mark Rosenau announced a $500,000 donation from 
Deffenbaugh to the Shawnee Town renovation project. As Rosenau said, 
``Ron started Deffenbaugh Disposal Service 50 years ago, and he always 
had a special affection for Shawnee. He was always quietly generous 
when it came to requests for services, donations and support from 
Shawnee groups and individuals. When Ron was informed he had been 
selected for this most prestigious award, he said he wanted to give 
something back to his city. He knew the city planned to rebuild Shawnee 
Town and he decided he wanted to help with that effort.''
  The City of Shawnee recently issued a press release commending Ron 
Deffenbaugh for his recent gift to the city and for his lifetime of 
service and support. Madam Speaker, I include that statement with my 
remarks and know that all members of the U.S. House of Representatives 
join with me in commending this outstanding community leader:

                  Deffenbaugh Donates to Shawnee Town

       What a wonderful Night in Casablanca, shared by Shawnee 
     City Officials and business leaders at the Sheraton this past 
     Saturday! The Shawnee Chamber of Commerce hosted their Annual 
     Dinner, which is a gala event honoring civic and business 
     leaders in the community and celebrating a year of great 
     achievement. The theme of Casablanca was apparent through the 
     fashionable attendees and tropical atmosphere of the event. 
     Many leaders were honored at the event including past 
     Chairman and former Shawnee Mayor Jim Allen for his 2007 
     leadership of the Chamber, Councilmember Dawn Kuhn for the 
     2007 Ambassador of the year and Ron Deffenbaugh was named 
     2007 Citizen of the Year.
       The citizen of the year honor was well deserved by Ron 
     Deffenbaugh for his countless contributions to the Shawnee 
     community. Deffenbaugh moved to the Kansas City area at the 
     age of nine and started his trash collection business with 
     one truck at the age of 15 in 1957. Since those modest 
     beginnings, Deffenbaugh Industries, Inc. has grown to become 
     the largest privately-owned refuse firm in the Midwest. 
     Deffenbaugh Industries has expanded over the years to include 
     the Johnson County Landfill, Deffenbaugh Disposal Service, 
     Shawnee Rock and Johnny on the Spot. Deffenbaugh saw 
     significant success and this has been shared with the Shawnee 
     community through donations to the City and countless 
     organizations in the community.
       Deffenbaugh annually sponsors many of the City events 
     including Old Shawnee Days, Fields for Freedom, Tidy Town, 
     Shawnee Christmas Around Town, St. Patrick's Parade, Sister 
     Cities Program, Great Grillers BBQ Competition and various 
     other events and programs. They have been a wonderful 
     community partner always generously contributing to Shawnee. 
     Deffenbaugh executives, Tom Coffman and Mark Rosenau accepted 
     the award on behalf of Ron on Saturday and announced that he 
     was pledging $500, 000 to the renovation of Shawnee Town. 
     Shawnee Town is an outdoor museum interpreting small town 
     rural life from the 1920s, which includes a museum grounds 
     featuring a home, barn, school, post office, chapel, fire 
     station, various businesses, and gardens. The strategic plan 
     for the renovation of the area was approved in 2007, and this 
     donation will be a tremendous help in getting the project 
     started The City is extremely grateful to Ron Deffenbaugh and 
     applauds his honor of being named 2007 Citizen of the Year!

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