[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15693]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING SAMES MOTOR COMPANY'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 14, 2010

  Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sames Motor 
Company's one hundredth year in operation. Sames Motor Company is 
Texas' oldest dealership. This automotive company has accomplished a 
century of service to our community throughout the years.
  Founded in 1910 by William J. Sames, this successful and prospering 
company has been sustained through five generations of Sames, 
traditional values and great work ethic. It continues to be locally 
owned in Laredo, Texas and operated by the Sames family. The dealership 
started with humble beginnings with an inventory starting with three 
Ford Model-Ts. Today, it sells over 3,000 new vehicles and an excess of 
4,000 used vehicles a year and employs over 400 workers through the 
Sames Auto Group.
  Within 4 years of its founding, a new location was needed for the 
booming business. By 1919, a new, grander location was established in 
downtown Laredo, which sold Ford, Cadillac, and other automobiles. 
Years later after World War II, Sames agreed with Ford Motor Company to 
be a dealership selling the Ford brand exclusively. The company 
continued to prosper under a succession of the Sames family, Harry E. 
Sames, Sr., son of W.J. Sames; Harry E. Sames, Jr., son of Harry, Sr.; 
and Harry ``Hank'' E. Sames III. In 1926 the dealership sold over a 
thousand Fords. By the 1960s and '70s, Sames Motor Company expanded to 
add three more locations in Laredo. The company, owned by the fourth 
generation of Sames, continued forward by acquiring Sames Red Barn, a 
dealership in Austin and expanding to Corpus Christi locations. Hank 
Sames developed the in-house financing division known as Thunderbird 
Auto Finance and launched the state of the art Sames Collision Center. 
Today, Sames Motor Company is owned by the fifth generation of Sames 
and thrives on traditional business values and excellent customer 
service.
  Sustaining a business for a century is not the only accomplishment of 
this establishment--community outreach and philanthropic contributions 
have come along with the success of Sames Motor Company. The founding 
of the Sames Scholars and the Driven to Success Programs is the only 
program of its kind for south Texas as an education based initiative. 
Evelyn Sames, fifth generation owner, implemented a new program called 
``Mission: Give Laredo,'' which benefits Bethany House, a local 
charity. In 2009, Mission: Give Laredo raised over $100,000 and 
contributed food, clothing, and goods. Recently, working with city 
officials, Evelyn is developing the Tires for Life recycling and 
wellness program, which will commit to the youth to healthy living and 
recycling. Sames Motor Company has also been the recipient of numerous 
awards and recognition.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize Texas' 
oldest dealership and its 100th anniversary. Through outstanding 
service and a family owned business, Sames Motor Company has 
accomplished a century of dedication.

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