[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2857]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TEXAS HIGHWAYS OASIS--     BUC-EE'S

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 2013

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, proud Texans naturally believe 
everything is bigger and better in Texas--because it is. Texas has the 
nation's biggest and longest highway system with nearly 80,000 miles of 
Texas highways. It is 880 miles from the Louisiana border to the New 
Mexico border and 500 miles from the Oklahoma border to the Mexican 
border. As Texas travelers are packing up and headed out across the 
great Lone Star State, odds are, they will make a pit stop at a Texas 
phenomenon--a convenience store called Buc-ee's.
  In 1982, Arch ``Beaver'' Aplin, founder and CEO of Buc-ee's, along 
with his business partner, Don Wasek, opened their first store in Lake 
Jackson, Texas. Super size dreams, determination and hard work proved 
successful for this duo; they now own 27 stores and employee over 1,000 
Texans.
  At a Buc-ee's, you can always spot an Aggie, either from their 
personalized license plate, their maroon pick-ups adorned with A&M 
stickers, or the ring--don't forget the ring! Aplin himself is a proud 
Aggie. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1980 with a degree in 
construction science. At the age of 22, newly graduated Aplin began 
working for the family-owned construction business. Two months later, 
he got the idea to open the Lake Jackson convenience store. The rich 
heritage of tradition that sets Texas A&M apart from all the rest is 
evident in Aplin's approach to owning a convenience store.
  Like camels in a caravan, motorists follow the famous billboards to 
find their own road trip oasis. Buc-ee's are well known for their large 
and very clean restroom facilities, which earned them the ``2012 
Cleanest Restroom in America'' Award--no wonder the women folk fancy 
stopping at Buc-ee's. There is something for the entire brood to enjoy 
from Beaver Nuggets, breakfast tacos, Bar-B-Que, beef jerky and fudge 
to T-shirts and Texas proud merchandise--even deer feeders and deer 
stands for sportsmen.
  Nowhere else on earth, but Texas, can you find a gas station bigger 
than a football field! I am not making this up. They have 5 flagship 
stores open 24 hours a day located in New Braunfels, Luling, 
Madisonville, Bastrop and Wharton. These stores are bigger than the 
average Buc-ee's--maybe we should nickname them the 8th Wonder of the 
World.
  It is truly an honor to recognize this Texas-owned business; not only 
for its standing as one of the top convenience stores in the State of 
Texas, but for the great services that it provides to the citizens of 
our great State. The employees are happy, Texas friendly, and helpful. 
On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I commend all 
Buc-ee's employees on a job well done, not only in our community, but 
throughout Texas.
  And that's just the way it is.

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