[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 9, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S6499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SMART MOTORS, INC.

 Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I would like to acknowledge the 
100th anniversary of Smart Motors, Inc., a family-owned business in 
Madison, WI. Smart Motors, Inc. began in 1908 when founder O.D. Smart 
sold his first car, an Apperson-Jackrabbit. A far cry from today's 
complex automobile business, the operation O.D. began was very 
straightforward--involving little more than a handshake, a cash payment 
and a bill of sale.
  Since those early days, Smart Motors has successfully added services 
such as finance and insurance as well as a service and parts department 
to satisfy their customers and to remain competitive in today's 
competitive car sales industry.
  Madam President, 2008 marks a milestone for Smart Motors which not 
even O.D. Smart could have anticipated when he made his first car sale 
in 1908. But his guiding principle to ``treat people with respect, 
honesty, equality, and integrity'' has served the company well. I am 
proud to have such a hardworking and respected family business in 
Wisconsin. I congratulate their high level of performance over the past 
100 years and wish them all the best as they enter their second century 
of business.

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