[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 146 (Thursday, September 12, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING DAN MUSSER III, HIS FAMILY, AND THE GRAND HOTEL

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                           HON. JACK BERGMAN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 12, 2019

  Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Dan Musser 
III and his family for their work as owners and stewards of the Grand 
Hotel. Through their unwavering commitment to excellence, the Musser 
family and the Grand Hotel have become indispensable parts of 
Michigan's First District.
  First opened in 1887, the Grand Hotel was created to serve as a 
retreat for vacationers looking to enjoy summer on the Straits of 
Mackinac and Lake Huron. Since 1933, the hotel has been owned and 
operated by the Musser family. Under the Mussers' stewardship, the 
Grand Hotel would grow to become not only a beloved part of Michigan, 
but a prominent feature in popular culture and premier destination for 
visitors from around the world. Its unique design has been widely 
acclaimed, and its world's-largest 660-foot porch has been enjoyed by 
the likes of John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and Thomas 
Edison.
  In 1989, the National Park Service designated the hotel as a National 
Historic Landmark, citing its historic architecture and representation 
of the American dream of a ``summer place.'' Today, its role as a 
summer place remains stronger than ever for the thousands of guests to 
Mackinac Island every year.
  Dan Musser III started working at the Grand Hotel while in high 
school, raking sand traps on the hotel's golf course, The Jewel. He 
would go on to work as a bellhop, bartender, front desk clerk, front 
desk manager, reservations manager, and Vice President, before finally 
being named President in 1989. Just like his family predecessors, Dan 
has served as a hands-on President--present to greet guests and happy 
to handle the day-to-day details. Outside of his own hotel, Dan has 
served as the Chairman of the Michigan Hotel, Motel, and Resort 
Association, Chairman of the Resort Committee of the American Hotel and 
Lodging Association, and was twice appointed to the Michigan Travel 
Commission by the Governor. The impact of his leadership on Mackinac 
Island and the state of Michigan cannot be overstated. While the Musser 
family may be passing along the ownership of the Grand Hotel, the 
impact of their work will be felt by Michiganders for generations to 
come.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the Musser family 
and honoring the unique history and cultural significance of the Grand 
Hotel. Michiganders can take immense pride in knowing that the First 
District is home to such an important landmark and such a devoted group 
of leaders. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Dan and the Grand 
Hotel all the best in their future endeavors.

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