[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15230]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


           IN HONOR OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF LA-Z-BOY, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute 
to La-Z-Boy, Incorporated, which was founded and remains headquartered 
in my Congressional District in Monroe, Michigan. La-Z-Boy is 
celebrating 75 years of bringing comfort, quality and style into homes 
and offices worldwide through its extensive selection of furniture.
  The La-Z-Boy story is the story of the American dream. On March 24, 
1927, in Monroe, Michigan, two young entrepreneurs and cousins, Edward 
M. Knabusch and Edwin J. Shoemaker, left the security of their jobs to 
take a leap of faith and begin manufacturing a unique and innovative 
product. A porch chair wrapped in fabric was the prototype for the La-
Z-Boy recliner, a moniker that has become a worldwide household term. 
Using money from Edwin's mortgaged family farm and donations from 
relatives, the cousins built their first factory by hand, brick by 
brick. After introducing the revolutionary chair that both rocked and 
reclined, La-Z-Boy sales skyrocketed. La-Z-Boy evolved from a small 
business to having a place on the New York Stock Exchange.
  La-Z-Boy has grown immensely in its 75 years of operation. The 
company has added many new products and features over the years, which 
have enabled it to remain competitive in the furniture industry since 
its founding. La-Z-Boy has grown from ``two guys in a garage'' to 
nearly 19,000 employees worldwide. Today, La-Z-Boy generates annual 
sales in excess of $2 billion, making it the largest manufacturer of 
upholstered furniture and the world's leading producer of reclining 
chairs.
  La-Z-Boy is a great success and consistently shares its good fortune 
with the community of Monroe. Its philanthropy is rooted in small town 
values that prevailed when Mr. Knabusch and Mr. Shoemaker first 
launched the company. During World War II, La-Z-News kept the community 
informed about overseas news, and the company rented out garages to 
build the most comfortable tank seats and crash pads in the country. 
La-Z-Boy continues being very much involved in the city of Monroe and 
is a major asset to Michigan's 16th Congressional District.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like you to join me in commending the La-Z-Boy 
corporation and its employees for their leadership in both their 
industry and in their community, as we celebrate their 75th 
anniversary.

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