[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 14, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING ROBERT F. CERVENKA OF PHILLIPS, WISCONSIN, ON BEING 
 PRESENTED THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BY THE PRICE COUNTY ECONOMIC 
                        DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

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                           HON. SEAN P. DUFFY

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2013

  Mr. DUFFY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the business 
accomplishments of Robert F. Cervenka of Phillips, Wisconsin, who has 
been presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Price County 
Economic Development Association.
  Bob Cervenka was born and raised in the small town of Phillips, 
Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After 
his graduation in 1958, Bob returned to the community that he loved to 
pursue his new business venture--the Phillips Plastics Corporation.
  Phillips Plastics began operations on October 20, 1964, occupying an 
old creamery building in Phillips. In 1967, the company broke ground on 
a new 12,000 square foot custom plastic facility where they employed 30 
skilled workers dedicated to crafting innovative control knobs for 
automobiles, dishwashers, fans, dehumidifiers, and dryers. In 1973, 
Phillips Plastics opened Precision Decorating in Medford, Wisconsin. 
Shortly thereafter, the facility became known as Phillips Automotive, a 
full service design, manufacture, decoration, and assembly plant for 
high volume injection molded components. As industries from the Midwest 
moved to the south and offshore, Bob recognized that Wisconsin's rural, 
small community workforce offered a unique competitive advantage. He 
developed additional plants in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Menomonie, 
New Richmond, Hudson, and Prescott among others.
  Capitalizing on the company's success, Mr. Cervenka and co-founder 
Louie Vokurka established the independent philanthropic Ann Marie 
Foundation in 1974. Named after their mothers, the foundation worked to 
improve the quality of life within local communities that are home to 
Phillips Plastics facilities. Since its inception, the foundation has 
given over $8 million to schools and non-profit organizations.
  Thanks to the business contributions of outstanding citizens like 
Robert F. Cervenka, Wisconsin's economic future looks bright. I ask 
that my colleagues join me today to express our appreciation for Bob's 
entrepreneurial spirit and our congratulations to him on receiving this 
well-deserved award.

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