[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 80 (Friday, June 7, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4014-S4015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO BOB CONLON
Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I would like to take a moment to
recognize Bob Conlon, a coowner of Leunig's Bistro, a fixture on
Burlington's historic Church Street for decades. Bob was recently
honored by the Burlington Business Association, BBA, for his
contributions not only to the local economy through the success of
Leunig's but also because of his commitment to community service.
Originally from Waterbury, CT, Bob has been a resident of Chittenden
County for over 45 years, first arriving in the area to attend my own
alma mater, St. Michael's College. Bob first came to Leunig's as a
bartender, rose to the post of manager, and today is a coowner of one
of Church Street's most successful restaurants. Marcelle and I enjoy
seeing and talking with Bob when we are in Burlington.
Bob's contributions to the greater Burlington community are not
limited
[[Page S4015]]
to providing great cuisine at Leunig's; he has been engaged in the
community for decades, hosting regular fundraisers that support a wide
range of services, from monthly dinners with proceeds that benefit
various local support programs to hosting an annual fashion show to
benefit the Breast Care Center at Fletcher Allen Hospital. Bob has been
an exemplary model of what good business really is: economically
successfully, and community-minded.
Bob's dedication to the Burlington community is well documented, and
the honor bestowed upon him by the BBA is wholly merited. In
recognition of his work, I ask that an article published in the
Burlington Free Press on April 4, 2013, ``Leunig's co-owner honored,''
be printed in the Congressional Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From The Burlington Free Press, Apr. 4, 2013]
Leunig's Co-owner Honored
Bob Conlon has spent half his life at Leunig's Bistro--from
substitute bartender to co-owner. A certain sensibility, and
a couple of tasks, follow him through every position.
``We're all in the service industry,'' Conlon, 63, said.
``We feed people, we cheer them up. Plunge the toilets and
mop the floors.''
Conlon will be honored tonight by the Burlington Business
Association. The BBA's 35th dinner and annual meeting will be
held at the Hilton Burlington.
The honoree, a fixture on Church Street for more than 30
years, will be attending his first BBA dinner, Conlon said
Monday morning over coffee in the bistro's dining room.
``I always thought of that dinner as for the important
people,'' he said. ``My social life is working.''
Conlon's work at Leunig's includes a variety of community
service efforts, including an annual fashion show/fundraiser
for the Breast Care Center at Fletcher Allen Health Care, and
monthly dinners with a portion of proceeds to benefit local
social service groups.
``They have long tradition of doing good for a broad range
of community groups,'' said Rita Markley, executive director
of COTS.
Tim Halvorson is a past recipient of the award Conlon will
receive; indeed, the award is named for Halvorson. He is a
board member of the Burlington Business Association who will
introduce Conlon at the dinner. Conlon follows in a line of
honorees who are committed to helping and enriching the
greater community, Halvorson said.
``We thought that Bob represents, through the way they
handle things at Leunig's, a great example of a small
business that gives back,'' Halvorson said. ``Between breast
cancer and City Arts and COTS, they give tens of thousands of
dollars back to the community. It's a business that uses its
popularity and location as a vehicle for good.''
Conlon arrived in Chittenden County 45 years ago from
Waterbury, Conn., the son of a restaurant waiter who worked
as a busboy as a kid. He was a theater major at St. Michael's
College. These days, his acting takes place at the Leunig's
bar--his costume is well-dressed restauranteur--and on the
Church Street Marketplace.
Last summer, Conlon's costume came to include hard hats,
worn by him and his staff (and sometimes customers) as a nod
to marketplace construction.
``You have a role to play,'' Conlon said, a part in which
his social life plays out at work. ``You have brief
conversations with people--cheerful and fun.''
He tries always to be in a good mood, Conlon said. If he's
feeling bad he steers away from the question, What do I want?
and asks instead, What does my wife want? What does my
daughter want? What do my staff and customers want? Conlon
said.
``If you can make other people happy, you end up being
happy,'' he said.
Conlon started working at Leunig's when he was 32, after a
short stint as co-owner of a failed restaurant. The business,
Carburs Rib-it Room, was in the space now occupied by
Marilyn's, a clothing store.
``If everything were perfect, it would've taken us 20 years
to get up to zero,'' Conlon said of the failed business.
He got out after two years and joined Leunig's as a
substitute bartender. ``I always liked waiting on
customers,'' he said. ``I got to hang out with a lot of good
people--artists, business people, college professors,
students, cops.''
He tended bar until about 10 years ago, when he became
manager. The move to manager from bartender came about, in
part, because managers came and went with frequency, Conlon
said.
``Every time you get a new boss it's very insecure,''
Conlon said. ``Your employment is dependent on the sanity of
your supervisor. So be the supervisor.''
He started as well to purchase ownership shares in the
business from Leunig's owner, Robert Fuller, intending with
his business partner, chef Donnell Collins, to become a 50-50
owner of the restaurant. Conlon expects the deal will be
finalized May 1, he said.
``Isn't that America?'' Conlon said. ``Isn't that what
everybody should do? Get a job, do your best at it, and don't
pass up opportunities. It's an honorable profession. If
you're good at it, you can live a good life.''
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