[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16081]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      SALUTE TO JIM GOODNIGHT AND HIS ASSOCIATES AT SAS INSTITUTE

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, this Nation was founded on the principle of 
freedom and, needless to say, America's free enterprise system is the 
hallmark of our Founding Fathers' economic vision. The news on 
television and in the newspapers report remarkable success stories, 
and, indeed, our Nation's most notable businesses were founded by men 
and women who had the ideas and the vision, and the courage to convert 
those visions into incredible successes.
  Those of us blessed to live in North Carolina are proud of our 
State's history of business successes, citizens like Buck Duke who 
developed a system to roll tobacco, William Henry Belk, the amazing 
merchant, whose Main Street sidewalk in Monroe grew into a chain of 
high-end department stores. There are countless others whose vision and 
faith in the free enterprise system made North Carolina one of the 
leading states in which to do business.
  Now then, it's an honor to salute another remarkable North Carolinian 
who has fulfilled the principles of the free enterprise system and 
thereby developed the largest privately-held software company in the 
world which, by the way, is headquartered in Cary, NC. SAS Institute, 
as it is known, was co-founded and now co-owned by James H. Goodnight 
and John P. Sall in 1976. Today their dream and wisdom ranks as one of 
North Carolina's largest employers.
  This remarkable enterprise was born following a research grant from 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture to several universities which were 
seeking new ways to analyze enormous volumes of agricultural data. A 
result of this grant was the development of the Statistical Analysis 
System from which SAS takes its name. The customer list of SAS is 
replete with the vast majority of the Fortune 100 companies, plus all 
14 Federal Government departments now use software developed by SAS. 
SAS software is used by customers in more than 111 countries around the 
world. It has vast overseas operations which are based in Heidelberg.
  I could go on and on reciting the SAS company's business successes 
but when you get down to it SAS is a reflection of its leadership. It 
is important to note the innovation of Dr. Goodnight, the distinguished 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer who has created one of the most 
desirable workplace environments in America.
  For example, Jim Goodnight had the forethought to create an on-site 
childcare center back in 1981 and SAS has an extensive medical facility 
providing healthcare for all of its associates on its campus. As a 
result of such creative and family friendly innovations SAS has one of 
the lowest personnel turnover rates in the industry; moreover SAS has 
been justifiably praised nationally by countless publications such as 
Working Mother, Fortune and Business Week.
  SAS's longstanding commitment to its community, its State and the 
world is evidenced by its significant contributions to multiple 
charitable organizations which focus on education and technology.
  Jim Goodnight took his personal commitment to education further by 
establishing a world-class independent co-educational college 
preparatory day school, which is a model for integrating technology 
into all facets of education.
  Its vast campus might easily be confused for that of a major 
university.
  As the SAS Institute marks its silver anniversary, it's an honor, 
indeed a privilege to join other friends across North Carolina in 
saluting this remarkable corporate citizen, the great leader, Dr. Jim 
Goodnight, on his incredible 25 years. Jim Goodnight's sound business 
practices, his adherence to the principles of the free enterprise 
system, together guarantee another remarkable 25 years for this great 
North Carolina business.

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