[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 41 (Friday, March 19, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           HONORING DREW LINN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PARKER GRIFFITH

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 19, 2010

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay 
tribute to a fine American, Drew Linn, on an occasion when he and his 
business have received a prestigious honor: the International Circle of 
Excellence Award for 2009.
  The Circle of Excellence, which is awarded by the International 
dealer organization of Navistar, Inc., honors International truck 
dealerships that achieve the highest level of dealer performance with 
respect to operating and financial standards, market representation, 
and most importantly, customer satisfaction. It is the highest honor a 
dealer principal can receive from the company.
  Drew's business, Southland International Trucks, is headquartered in 
Homewood, Alabama, where it was founded more than 30 years ago, and 
includes two dealerships in my district, in Huntsville and Decatur. 
Under his leadership, it has grown into one of the preeminent truck 
dealerships in the Southeast and the entire nation, with 171 employees 
and five dealer locations throughout Alabama. It was recently named the 
International Dealer of the Year, an honor awarded to the one 
International dealer who exhibits the highest commitment to best-in-
class customer service. Last year, Southland delivered more trucks than 
any other International dealer in the global network. With this most 
recent award, Southland International has now received the Circle of 
Excellence Award, under Drew's leadership, a total of 10 times.
  Drew has achieved this level of accomplishment and recognition 
through many years of hard work and service to his industry and 
community. He has also built a successful truck leasing business, 
Southland Idealease of Alabama, which is a multi-year winner of the 
IdealGold Award for Excellence. He is a past president or chairman of 
the Alabama Trucking Association, its Workers Compensation Fund, and 
the Shelton State Foundation. He is an active member of the Alabama 
Commission on Higher Education, the West Alabama Regional Commission, 
the West Alabama Bank Board of Directors and the University 
Transportation Center for Alabama.
  Through his commitment to hard work and outstanding customer service, 
he has built an economically vital business of which he can be justly 
proud. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join with me in 
congratulating Drew Linn for his record of accomplishment and for his 
many contributions to his community, state and nation.

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