[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 73 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING HARRY CORNELL, THE FORMER CEO OF CARTHAGE, MISSOURI'S 
                      LEGGETT & PLATT INCORPORATED

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                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2016

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Harry Cornell, the 
former CEO of Carthage, Missouri's Leggett & Platt, Incorporated. 
Harry's contributions are to be memorialized with a statue in his 
likeness on the manufacturer's campus, which will also be renamed in 
his honor.
  Born to Mack and Marjorie Cornell in 1928, Harry is a true 
Missourian. He went to the University of Missouri and, upon graduation, 
immediately joined Leggett & Platt. After 3 years, Harry was selected 
to be a plant manager at their factory in Ennis, Texas, and was elected 
to Leggett & Platt's Board of Directors a mere five years later in 
1958. Seeing an opportunity to expand the company, he purchased a 
majority of the stock for Leggett & Platt and was soon appointed CEO.
  Cornell served as CEO for Leggett & Platt for nearly 40 years, and 
was instrumental in creating the thriving company that we know today. 
Under his tenure, Leggett & Platt experienced unprecedented growth; 
Leggett & Platt sales increased exponentially, moving from $7 Million a 
year to over $3.7 Billion in sales. Furthermore, Harry oversaw the 
company when it was added to the Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) index 
and continued to serve on Leggett & Platt's Board of Directors after 
his tenure as CEO until 2008--retiring after 50 years with the company.
  Those who worked with Harry during his four decades leading Leggett & 
Platt knew that he subscribed to the following unattributed quote, 
which was prominently displayed in his office or repeated by him: 
``Success is founded on a constant state of discontentment, interrupted 
by brief periods of satisfaction on the completion of a job 
particularly well done.''
  Mr. Speaker, Harry Cornell is not only a shining example of the 
business acumen that makes America the great country it is, but he is 
also a true Missourian to his core. I would like to extend my thanks, 
both personally and on behalf of the 7th district, for his integral 
role in developing Leggett & Platt into one of Missouri's true titans 
of industry, creating countless jobs and keeping our economy strong and 
healthy. I urge my colleagues to join me as I congratulate Harry on his 
storied and influential career, which is a living testament to the 
American Dream.

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