[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12619]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    HONORING SKIHI ENTERPRISES, LTD.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2001

  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize a great Texas 
company, SkiHi Enterprises, Ltd., on its 20th anniversary. Over the 
past 20 years, SkiHi has built a reputation as one of Texas' leading 
mechanical/industrial contractors. I want to extend my congratulations 
to the company's founders, Richard Skipper and Tom Hicks, and to 
everyone else who has had a hand in SkiHi's success.
  In 1981, Richard Skipper and Tom Hicks formed SkiHi. Mr. Skipper and 
Mr. Hicks had both worked in the industry for many years, which gave 
them the experience and knowledge they needed to create a successful 
business together. They started with a simple business plan, focusing 
on not over-extending SkiHi's limited resources and on steady, 
controlled growth. Because of these wise business practices and high 
quality work, SkiHi has become one the best respected mechanical/
industrial contractors in the state of Texas.
  Today, SkiHi is a full service mechanical/industrial contractor with 
over 220 employees. The company has a 38,000 square foot headquarters 
and fabrication shop in Fort Worth, Texas, and opened an office in 
Lubbock, Texas two years ago. SkiHi's volume was $1 million in its 
first year, $4 million in the second year, and was over $33 million in 
2000.
  SkiHi has worked on many large construction projects in Texas. One of 
SkiHi's first projects was renovating the Tarrant County Courthouse in 
downtown Fort Worth. SkiHi has also done extensive work in North Texas 
on Burlington Northern Sante Fe's corporate headquarters, Nestle's 
Texas Distribution Center, the James West Special Care Center for 
Alzheimer's Disease, the University of North Texas Health Science 
Center, Alcon Laboratories, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Rental Car 
Facility. In recent years, the company has also completed many projects 
outside of the Fort Worth area. The most notable is the United Spirit 
Arena at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
  SkiHi also gives back to the industry and community. In conjunction 
with the Construction Education Foundation, SkiHi provides workforce 
training classes at North Lake College and Trimble Tech High School. 
The Construction Education Foundation is a coalition of North Texas 
contractors that trains approximately 600 apprentices each year. SkiHi 
sends employees to high school career days and job fairs to promote the 
construction business. The company also provides on-the-job training 
for young men and women interested in a career in construction.
  Additionally, SkiHi is an active member of the Associated Builders 
and Contractors. The company has been awarded for its quality work by 
the Associated Builders and Contractors on numerous occasions. Most 
recently, SkiHi was awarded First Place on the local level for the 2000 
Associated Builders and Contractors Excellence in Construction Awards 
for its work on the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Rental Car 
Facility.
  Once again, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate SkiHi Enterprises, 
Ltd., for 20 years of success. I know that the next 20 years will be 
even more productive.

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