[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 45 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING ALFRED SCHWAN

 Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I wish to honor the memory of a 
caring and charismatic business icon and decorated Navy veteran.
  Alfred Schwan, who passed away on March 18, 2011, helped found a 
small, all-American family business with his brothers Marvin and Robert 
and built The Schwan Food Company to what it is today a multibillion-
dollar, frozen-food company with thousands of employees and millions of 
customers.
  Alfred was known as an adventurous and outgoing person who had a 
quick smile, relentless energy, and a can-do attitude.
  Alfred started in the frozen food business early. Born in 1925 to 
Paul and Alma Schwan, as a young man he helped his father at the 
Marshall Ice Cream Company make popsicles and ice cream bars.
  But Alfred did not go straight into the family business. He left to 
fulfill a dream and serve his country as a pilot and joined the U.S. 
Naval Aviation Corps. Alfred flew torpedo bombers and taught 
antisubmarine warfare.
  He met his wife Doris during a blind date at a USO Club. They married 
in 1946, the same year Alfred was awarded Navy Wings of Gold. A year 
later they had their first of five sons.
  Answering a call from his family, Alfred joined the family business 
in 1964 to oversee factory operations and company drivers. Those 
company yellow trucks have become beloved across the nation. I know I 
remember seeing the yellow Schwan truck in my neighborhood.
  With a commitment to integrity and hard work, Alfred went on to 
oversee the Schwan pizza business. He guided the production of Schwan 
pizza in their plant in Salina, KS, for three decades. Under his 
leadership the plant grew from having little more than a dozen 
employees to employing 1,500 Kansans with the capacity to produce more 
than 3 million pizzas a day. Alfred listed the growth of the Salina 
plant as one of his proudest achievements in business.
  After the death of his brother Marvin, Alfred was appointed CEO, 
president and chairman of Schwan in 1993. He retired as chairman in 
2009 at the age of 83.
  Among the many public honors this inspirational and optimistic leader 
received include being honored by the School Nutrition Association of 
Kansas as an Outstanding Industry Member of the Year, induction into 
the Frozen Food Hall of Fame, and receiving Schwan's most prestigious 
honor--the Marvin M. Schwan Heritage of Quality Award.
  Alfred was such an important community leader and citizen of Kansas 
that, when he retired, Salina, KS, declared February 6 as ``Alfred 
Schwan Day.''
  As March is National Frozen Food Month, it is appropriate to honor 
Alfred's life and the energy and passion he gave to this important 
industry. He was an innovator and pioneer in the frozen food industry. 
With more than 700 facilities nationwide, the frozen food industry 
employs nearly 100,000 Americans and generates a payroll of 
approximately $3 billion.
  On behalf of all Americans, I thank Alfred Schwan for his service to 
our country and to U.S. consumers. Frozen foods are a staple in 
American homes, office lunch rooms, and school cafeterias. These foods 
provide an important source of healthy, affordable, and convenient food 
choices that help feed our Nation and the world.

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