[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE OF R.D. ``DAN'' MUSSER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAN BENISHEK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 17, 2013

  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the life of R.D. 
``Dan'' Musser, owner of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, who passed 
on at the age of 80 on April 13, 2013.
   Born in Circleville, Ohio in 1932, Mr. Musser graduated from 
Dartmouth College and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. 
After returning in 1951, Mr. Musser went to work at the Grand Hotel on 
Mackinac Island, Michigan, which was owned by his family. In order not 
to show favoritism, his uncle W. Stewart Woodfill, who was the hotel's 
owner, had Mr. Musser work twice the number of hours other employees 
did while learning about the operations of the hotel.
   Mr. Musser became the manager of the hotel in 1960, when he doubled 
the number of rooms in the establishment and extended the hours of the 
hotel during the summer season. Mr. and Mrs. Musser purchased the hotel 
from W. Stewart Woodfill in 1979.
   During the Musser's ownership of the hotel, Mr. Musser worked to run 
the large hotel with an impeccable attention to detail and a level of 
personal service found in much smaller establishments. Mr. Musser often 
wrote over 50 handwritten notes to employees of the Grand Hotel a day 
regarding items needing attention. During his tenure as owner, the 
Grand Hotel became a National Historical Landmark in 1989.
   In addition to his work at the Grand Hotel, Mr. Musser served as 
Chairman of the Michigan Travel Commission, Chairman of the Mackinac 
Island Public Works Commission, and was remembered as a civic pillar. 
When not working to improve the Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island, Mr. 
and Mrs. Musser also enjoyed raising show dogs, his Scottish terrier, 
Sadie earned the prestigious ``Best in Show'' at the 2010 American 
Kennel Club Dog Show.
   Survived by his wife, three children, and seven grandchildren, 
Musser's great legacy includes building the Grand Hotel into what it is 
today and working to share Northern Michigan hospitality and beautiful 
summers with all citizens. On behalf of all residents of the First 
Congressional District of Michigan, I wish to express my condolences to 
the Musser family and salute R.D. Musser's contribution to our state 
and country.

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