[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S1420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO MIKE SHAW

 Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, today I want to 
recognize Mike Shaw, an outstanding Coloradan and this year's recipient 
of the prestigious TIME Dealer of the Year award. This award is given 
to outstanding new-car dealers who have also performed community 
service and exhibited a commitment to improving the world. Mike is an 
exceptional business owner in Colorado, an active philanthropist, and a 
role model in his community. I applaud Mike's achievement and would 
like to take a few moments to share his work with you.
  Mike has long been devoted to serving his community, a value that was 
instilled early in his life. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having 
served in Vietnam, and as a member of the Senate Armed Services 
Committee, I want to extend my gratitude for his service to our 
country.
  After returning home and entering the new-car business, Mike opened 
the Mike Shaw Chevrolet Saab dealership in the heart of Denver. Today 
he is the owner of seven dealerships throughout Colorado, Louisiana, 
and Texas. Mike's entrepreneurial spirit serves as a perfect example of 
how small businesses take root and help drive our economy, creating 
jobs and taking care of their customers and communities.
  The auto industry has served as the backbone of American 
manufacturing. When it was hit hard by the 2008 recession and neared 
bankruptcy in 2009, thousands of dealerships across the country were at 
risk of closing. I had the privilege of working with Mike to help give 
these important Colorado businesses and the jobs they support a second 
chance. He stood up to inform Congress of the actual impacts of closing 
auto dealerships and helped promote solutions to keep them in business. 
He has been a steadfast leader in Colorado, and we can all learn from 
his principled approach. As Mike says, ``My mantra in business is that 
quality comes first, customers are always the focus, and integrity is 
never compromised.''
  I also want to commend him for his commitment to expanding education 
and opportunity for the youth in our State. His reach has extended to 
countless organizations and boards on which he has served or 
contributed to in other ways. The Denver Zoological Foundation, the 
Urban League of Denver, Kempe Children's Foundation, the National 
Western Stock Show Association, and St. Joseph Hospital Foundation are 
just a few that have felt his impact.
  His exceptional leadership in the auto industry and involvement with 
these important community partners has earned Mike the Dealer of the 
Year award. His achievements are far-reaching, and each one of them is 
in the spirit of service to his community.
  Mike is a determined and selfless community leader whose drive has 
helped provide our children a brighter future and made Colorado a 
better place to live. I extend to him my congratulations for being 
honored as the 2012 TIME Dealer of the Year, and I look forward to his 
continued leadership throughout Colorado.

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