[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 61 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E601-E602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF DEBBI O'DONOHUE FOR HER THIRTY YEARS OF SUCCESS AND 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 28, 2014

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding small business headquartered in the Fifth Congressional 
District of Missouri, which I have the honor and privilege of serving. 
Awards & T-Shirts Specialists, Inc. is celebrating thirty years of 
successful business. Their founder and owner, Debbi O'Donohue, is the 
driving force behind this nationally recognized company.
  As elected leaders, it is important for us to salute successful 
businesses such as Awards & T-Shirts Specialists, Inc. The 
entrepreneurial spirit of Debbi and her company is truly what makes our 
country great.
  Their founder and owner, Debbi O'Donohue, started Awards & T-Shirts 
on March 3, 1984 as a trophy business in her parents' basement. It 
rapidly expanded three months later to offer screen-printed apparel and 
custom-made awards. Today, this company is the premier provider of 
American-made and union-decorated promotional products in the United 
States, having customers in all fifty states and Canada.
  Debbi was a trailblazer in 1986 when Awards & T-Shirts Specialists 
signed their first union contract. She became the first female owned 
and operated contractor in the Greater Kansas City Building and 
Construction Trades Council. Specializing in serving the unions' niche 
and related companies and organizations, Awards & T-Shirts has 
continued to expand and enhance its high- quality American and union 
made products, outstanding service, and creative image designs over the 
past thirty years.
  Awards & T-Shirts' impressive record of delivering proven results has 
elevated their company to become a national leader in the promotional 
marketing industry that is highly sought after for conferences, special 
events, golf tournaments, and workforce motivational programs.
  The amazing thirty years of success of Awards & T-Shirts Specialists 
can be directly attributed to Debbi and her boundless energy and 
captivating personality. She leads by example, inspiring dedication and 
determination in her staff.

[[Page E602]]

  It is one thing for a business to be successful; it is another 
milestone to achieve thirty years of success. Probably the greatest 
good is demonstrated by what a person gives back to the community. 
Debbi and Awards & T-Shirts have always demonstrated a commitment to 
supporting our community through sponsorship of youth sports teams, 
donations to community organizations, and a dedication to charitable 
giving by being the lead sponsor for the Annual Muscular Dystrophy 
Association (MDA) Labor Day Softball Tournament and Bowl-A-Thon.
  Awards & T-Shirts' 30th Anniversary Celebration on April 26th 
continued this dedication to giving back through a benefit for the 
Autism Society--The Heartland. It was my pleasure and honor to join 
Debbi, her family, and team along with customers from around the 
country for this worthy endeavor.
  If the Speaker and my colleagues will indulge me, I would like to 
highlight one of my personal experiences with Debbi and her team. She 
and her dedicated staff came to the rescue of our Congressional Art 
Competition by producing the awards ribbons for the event at a moment's 
notice. As a woman owned business and a union signatory contractor that 
provides a full benefit package to their employees, Awards & T-Shirts 
Specialist, Inc. is a model for all small businesses in our country. 
The company's legacy is reflected in their customers, and I am proud to 
have benefitted from their outstanding craftsmanship, innovative and 
creative designs, and extraordinary dedication to the highest quality 
products.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me, as I am honored 
and proud to be saluting and applauding Debbi O'Donohue and Awards & T-
Shirts Specialists, Inc. for thirty years of successful business.

                          ____________________