[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 46 (Friday, April 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF BILL SAMUELS' ACCOMPLISHED CAREER IN KENTUCKY

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                           HON. BEN CHANDLER

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 1, 2011

  Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of a very 
important man in one of Kentucky's signature industries. Bill Samuels 
is stepping down as president of Maker's Mark after an outstanding 44-
year tenure with the company, a career which saw him introduce Maker's 
Mark to the world and re-invent the way that bourbon was seen around 
the world.
  A 7th generation bourbon maker, Bill Samuels is well versed in the 
tradition of making bourbon. Although his father, Bill Samuels Sr., was 
the inventor of the Maker's Mark recipe, bourbon wasn't always in the 
blood of the younger Bill. In fact, after growing up in Bardstown, 
Kentucky he set off to college and became, of all things, a rocket 
scientist. When the solid propellants he worked on became outdated, he 
earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University. After law school, Bill 
returned to work for his father, all the while not intending to 
permanently join the family business. Little did he know that he would 
be largely responsible for taking Maker's Mark from a local institution 
to a brand recognized and enjoyed worldwide.
  When Bill started working at Maker's Mark, it was still a local 
company. They didn't have an advertizing agency create a fancy 
marketing campaign, so Bill put his superb sense of humor to work and 
started making his own ads. He paired his now-famous one-liners with 
his family product, and created a worldwide phenomenon. In a business 
which to that point was nothing but serious, Bill Samuels' ability to 
make people laugh and catch their attention changed the game. Today, 
few brands' advertisements are more recognizable than the Maker's Mark 
bottle with the wax on top. Despite Maker's Mark's status as a 
worldwide brand, Bill made sure that he stuck to his family's methods, 
carefully supervising each batch to give the whole world a taste of 
small-town Kentucky.
  Bill Samuels' legacy at Maker's Mark is unforgettable. Not only did 
he introduce the country and the world to one of the signature products 
of the Commonwealth, he also saw his family's distillery become the 
first one in the United States to be named a National Historic 
Landmark. While his company is now known worldwide, Bill has stayed 
true to his Kentucky roots. He is still a pillar in his community, 
serving on a number of boards and as a guest lecturer at several 
universities.
  Bill Samuels leaves big shoes to fill at Maker's Mark, and I wish him 
the best in his future endeavors. I congratulate him on his success at 
Maker's Mark and all that he has done for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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