[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1523]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO MIKE WATERS

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                        HON. TRAVIS W. CHILDERS

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 22, 2010

  Mr. CHILDERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay 
tribute to a fine American, Mike Waters, on an occasion when he and his 
business have received a prestigious honor: the International Circle of 
Excellence Award for 2009.
  The Circle of Excellence, which is awarded by the International 
dealer organization of Navistar, Inc., honors International truck 
dealerships that achieve the highest level of dealer performance with 
respect to operating and financial standards, market representation, 
and most importantly, customer satisfaction. It is the highest honor a 
dealer principal can receive from the company.
  Mike's business, Waters Truck & Tractor Co., is headquartered in 
Columbus, Mississippi, where it was founded 72 years ago by his 
grandfather. Since Mike joined the company full-time in 1975, it has 
grown into one of the preeminent truck dealerships in the Southeast and 
the entire nation. In addition to five full-service truck locations, 
the Waters Companies include an IC Bus school bus dealership, a wrecker 
service, and remote facility and equipment maintenance. The Waters 
Companies employ 275 people in all. In 2002, Waters Truck & Tractor was 
named the International Dealer of the Year, an honor awarded to the one 
International dealer who exhibits the highest commitment to best-in-
class customer service. With this most recent award, Waters Truck & 
Tractor has now received the Circle of Excellence Award a total of 29 
times.
  Mike has achieved this level of accomplishment and recognition 
through many years of hard work and service to his industry and 
community. He is active in his church and many civic groups and is a 
board member for numerous organizations, including the Cadence Bank, 
the Baptist Memorial Health Care System and the Mississippi University 
for Women Foundation. Mike has now welcomed the fourth generation into 
the business, with Michael, Vaughan and Josh Waters having joined the 
company.
  Through his commitment to hard work and outstanding customer service, 
he has built an economically vital business of which he can be justly 
proud. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join with me in 
congratulating Mike Waters for his record of accomplishment and for his 
many contributions to his community, state and nation.

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