[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8217]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING CONNELL INSURANCE

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                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2013

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Connell Insurance, 
the 2013 recipient of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's W. 
Curtis Strube Small Business Award.
  Connell Insurance is a full service, independent insurance agency 
that was founded by Pat Connell in 1971. The launch of Connell 
Insurance came after Pat saw his father, Bob, lose his successful 
houseboat manufacturing business to a fire in the late sixties. This 
disaster took an even worse turn with the insurance difficulties that 
occurred after the fire. With this tragedy in mind and being an 
entrepreneur by nature, as well as family tradition, Pat launched 
Connell Insurance Inc. to serve his community.
  Throughout the years, Connell Insurance garnered a reputation for 
excellence in serving the rapid growth of the hospitality industry in 
Branson. The growth of Branson was equally matched by the agency 
itself. It was this growth that spurred Pat's brother, Tim, to join the 
agency in 1987. In 1995, Connell Insurance became even more of a family 
affair when Pat's son, Chad, joined the family business.
  Connell Insurance is recognized within Southwest Missouri for its 
focus on community, its unique service offerings, and its philosophy of 
being a trusted partner and advisor to its clients. The agency's 
forward-thinking enabled it to be among one of the first agencies to go 
``paperless,'' completing the transition nearly a decade ago. In fact, 
the agency is currently the only Ozarks Greenscore certified insurance 
agency in Southwest Missouri.
  Connell Insurance is the 2013 recipient of the Springfield Chamber of 
Commerce W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award. The W. Curtis Strube 
Small Business Award celebrates the importance of small business in the 
Springfield community and highlights the unique entrepreneurial spirit 
that flourishes here.
  I am honored to recognize Connell Insurance and their 31 employees, 
and want to take this opportunity to acknowledge their hard work, 
innovation, business philosophy, and contributions to our community.
  On a personal note I would like to mention that not only is Pat a 
great businessman, he and his wife Patty were even better next door 
neighbors to my Mom and Dad for several years.

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