[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17092]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THORSEN'S PLUMBING & AIR CONDITIONING ON THEIR 100TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2011

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
Thorsen's Plumbing & Air Conditioning Inc. on their 100th Anniversary. 
This dedicated business continues to bring economic vitality to the 
region.
  On November 11, 1911, Andy Thorsen Sr. started his plumbing business 
as a one man shop in a shed attached to his first home on 567 High 
Street in Turlock, California. November 17, 1911, he obtained a city 
license in the name of ``Thorsen's Plumbing'' and began working out of 
his house at 567 High Street. Andy would ride his bicycle to jobs, 
carrying 200 pound bundles of 20 foot pipe on his shoulder. In 1916, 
Andy relocated to 214 Lander Avenue with the sign ``Andy Thorsen, The 
Plumber''. Andy was the first business person in Turlock to use a 
horseless carriage for his business, a Model T Ford with special tires 
for the rough and muddy roads.
  In the early days, his work mainly consisted of simple plumbing with 
water storage tanks and wind driven pumps. Between 1918-1927, business 
continued to grow as the demand for modern indoor plumbing increased. 
In 1933, Andy Thorsen the Plumber moved to 134 Lander Avenue to a 
larger facility.
  As post war construction boomed across the nation, Thorsen's grew 
with the continued increase in new homes and business construction. 
Eventually, Andy expanded his business to include plumbing, heating, 
sheet metal, storage tanks, pumps, motors, windmills, hardware and 
paint.
  During the 1950's, air conditioning became popular in the central 
valley providing comfort and quality to homes. Thorsen's responded by 
expanding their services to include central air conditioning and 
heating.
  Thorsen's saw its greatest expansion during the 1960's and 1970's. 
Andy Thorsen's two sons, Rodney and Andy Jr., were both involved as 
partners in the business until 1965 when Rodney took over as president 
became sole owner of ``Thorsen's Plumbing & Air Conditioning Inc.'' The 
name change reflected the growing importance of air conditioning.
  In 1977, Rodney Thorsen completed the purchase of 20 acres of land 
and built a 19,500 sq. ft. building on North Walnut, employing 80-100 
people and expanded to include commercial, residential and service for 
plumbing and HVAC throughout the Merced and Stanislaus counties. Rodney 
managed the company for the next 20 years and in 1984, his youngest son 
Norman graduated from college and returned to Turlock to take over the 
reins of the company. In 1988, Norman was involved in a serious 
automobile accident which forced Rodney to take over managing the 
company again.
  Over the next 14 years, Norman was able to help Rodney manage the 
company on a limited basis. Through the skill and devotion of key long-
term employees in the office and the field, Thorsen's Inc. was able to 
remain competitive.
  In 2002, Craig Pitau was asked to join Thorsen's as the General 
Manager and was given the opportunity to purchase ownership in the 
company. Craig worked with Norman managing Thorsen's until Norman's 
untimely passing in 2004. In 2005, Rodney also passed away. Today, the 
company is owned by Carl Thorsen, Don Thorsen, Judy Thorsen Enchelmayer 
and Craig Pitau.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in praising Thorsen's Plumbing & Air 
Conditioning Inc. for their 100 years of operation.

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