[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7178]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING MUIR OMNI GRAPHICS ON 50 YEARS OF BUSINESS IN CENTRAL 
                                ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. AARON SCHOCK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 17, 2013

  Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a business in my 
hometown of Peoria, Illinois that is celebrating its 50th anniversary 
this year. Muir Omni Graphics started as a small family-owned 
silkscreen printing business. Today, they provide decals and logos for 
some of America's most well-known corporations, including Caterpillar, 
Verizon, AT&T, and the Chicago Transit Authority.
   Don Muir had a vision in 1963 when he started Muir Omni Graphics. He 
saw a trend developing, with companies moving from hand-lettered 
markings to printed decals on their trucks and machinery. His first 
customers were Caterpillar Tractor Co., Montgomery Ward, a garbage 
disposal company, and Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club. By 1971, Muir was 
printing over one million decals and emblems every year and was the 
largest producer between Chicago and St. Louis.
   The late 1970s and early 1980s were a difficult time for many 
businesses, and for the City of Peoria. While many businesses closed 
their doors and people moved out of Peoria, giving rise to the phrase, 
``Will the last one to leave Peoria please turn out the lights,'' Muir 
developed new business models to continue serving their clients. They 
not only weathered the economic downturn, but they thrived and were 
there in Peoria to welcome everyone back when prosperity returned.
   Today, the great strength of Muir is that it is still run as a 
family business, and that family attitude extends beyond the Muirs 
themselves to their 42 employees. Muir is currently in the process of 
transitioning the business to employee ownership, demonstrating the 
great trust and confidence they have in their employees' abilities and 
knowledge.
   I am honored today to be able to recognize this company for their 
half-century of service in Central Illinois. While they provide 
superior products and customer service to their clients, the story of 
Muir in a larger sense is a profoundly American story. The idea that a 
family in Peoria, Illinois can start a business that will then grow to 
become a part of the community and a profitable enterprise with global 
reach is the very essence of the American Dream.
   Muir is not only a business presence in Peoria, however. Andrew 
Muir, the president of the company, has given back to his community in 
a variety of ways. As a member of the Peoria Public Schools Foundation 
Board of Directors, Andrew works to improve and enhance public 
education in Peoria through classroom grants. These grants have been 
used to purchase new technology, fund afterschool art programs, and 
institute a drum program for a primary school, among other things.
   Under Andrew's leadership, Muir Omni Graphics sponsored the West 
Peoria Jamboree Family Fun Run, a community event that raises donations 
for the West Peoria Habitat for Humanity, West Peoria Volunteer Fire 
Department, Lion's Club and other organizations. Muir also donates 
wooden screen frames and kid-safe scrap products to local community art 
programs, allowing teachers to lead activities that encourage and 
stimulate creativity among their students. The company was awarded the 
Peoria County Recycling and Waste Reduction Award for their efforts to 
constructively reuse scraps and recycle unusable byproducts.
   These examples of the community service Muir and its employees 
provide to Peoria are just the tip of the iceberg, but they are 
demonstrative of the philosophy of giving back that this extraordinary 
company exhibits.
   I congratulate the team at Muir Omni Graphics for their sustained 
dedication to sound business practices and quality work. I am confident 
that the next 50 years will see more exciting developments from Muir 
and that they will continue to grow and thrive in Central Illinois. 
Businesses like Muir are what make Central Illinois an attractive place 
to live and work, and I wish them all the best as they move forward.

                          ____________________