[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8243]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BOB CONLON

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize Bob Conlon, a co-owner of Leunig's Bistro, a fixture on 
Burlington's historic Church Street for decades. Bob was recently 
honored by the Burlington Business Association, BBA, for his 
contributions not only to the local economy through the success of 
Leunig's but also because of his commitment to community service.
  Originally from Waterbury, CT, Bob has been a resident of Chittenden 
County for over 45 years, first arriving in the area to attend my own 
alma mater, St. Michael's College. Bob first came to Leunig's as a 
bartender, rose to the post of manager, and today is a co-owner of one 
of Church Street's most successful restaurants. Marcelle and I enjoy 
seeing and talking with Bob when we are in Burlington.
  Bob's contributions to the greater Burlington community are not 
limited to providing great cuisine at Leunig's; he has been engaged in 
the community for decades, hosting regular fundraisers that support a 
wide range of services, from monthly dinners with proceeds that benefit 
various local support programs to hosting an annual fashion show to 
benefit the Breast Care Center at Fletcher Allen Hospital. Bob has been 
an exemplary model of what good business really is: economically 
successfully, and community-minded.
  Bob's dedication to the Burlington community is well documented, and 
the honor bestowed upon him by the BBA is wholly merited. In 
recognition of his work, I ask that an article published in the 
Burlington Free Press on April 4, 2013, ``Leunig's co-owner honored,'' 
be printed in the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

             [From The Burlington Free Press, Apr. 4, 2013]

                       Leunig's Co-owner Honored

       Bob Conlon has spent half his life at Leunig's Bistro--from 
     substitute bartender to co-owner. A certain sensibility, and 
     a couple of tasks, follow him through every position.
       ``We're all in the service industry,'' Conlon, 63, said. 
     ``We feed people, we cheer them up. Plunge the toilets and 
     mop the floors.''
       Conlon will be honored tonight by the Burlington Business 
     Association. The BBA's 35th dinner and annual meeting will be 
     held at the Hilton Burlington.
       The honoree, a fixture on Church Street for more than 30 
     years, will be attending his first BBA dinner, Conlon said 
     Monday morning over coffee in the bistro's dining room.
       ``I always thought of that dinner as for the important 
     people,'' he said. ``My social life is working.''
       Conlon's work at Leunig's includes a variety of community 
     service efforts, including an annual fashion show/fundraiser 
     for the Breast Care Center at Fletcher Allen Health Care, and 
     monthly dinners with a portion of proceeds to benefit local 
     social service groups.
       ``They have long tradition of doing good for a broad range 
     of community groups,'' said Rita Markley, executive director 
     of COTS.
       Tim Halvorson is a past recipient of the award Conlon will 
     receive; indeed, the award is named for Halvorson. He is a 
     board member of the Burlington Business Association who will 
     introduce Conlon at the dinner. Conlon follows in a line of 
     honorees who are committed to helping and enriching the 
     greater community, Halvorson said.
       ``We thought that Bob represents, through the way they 
     handle things at Leunig's, a great example of a small 
     business that gives back,'' Halvorson said. ``Between breast 
     cancer and City Arts and COTS, they give tens of thousands of 
     dollars back to the community. It's a business that uses its 
     popularity and location as a vehicle for good.''
       Conlon arrived in Chittenden County 45 years ago from 
     Waterbury, Conn., the son of a restaurant waiter who worked 
     as a busboy as a kid. He was a theater major at St. Michael's 
     College. These days, his acting takes place at the Leunig's 
     bar--his costume is well-dressed restauranteur--and on the 
     Church Street Marketplace.
       Last summer, Conlon's costume came to include hard hats, 
     worn by him and his staff (and sometimes customers) as a nod 
     to marketplace construction.
       ``You have a role to play,'' Conlon said, a part in which 
     his social life plays out at work. ``You have brief 
     conversations with people--cheerful and fun.''
       He tries always to be in a good mood, Conlon said. If he's 
     feeling bad he steers away from the question, What do I want? 
     and asks instead, What does my wife want? What does my 
     daughter want? What do my staff and customers want? Conlon 
     said.
       ``If you can make other people happy, you end up being 
     happy,'' he said.
       Conlon started working at Leunig's when he was 32, after a 
     short stint as co-owner of a failed restaurant. The business, 
     Carburs Rib-it Room, was in the space now occupied by 
     Marilyn's, a clothing store.
       ``If everything were perfect, it would've taken us 20 years 
     to get up to zero,'' Conlon said of the failed business.
       He got out after two years and joined Leunig's as a 
     substitute bartender. ``I always liked waiting on 
     customers,'' he said. ``I got to hang out with a lot of good 
     people--artists, business people, college professors, 
     students, cops.''
       He tended bar until about 10 years ago, when he became 
     manager. The move to manager from bartender came about, in 
     part, because managers came and went with frequency, Conlon 
     said.
       ``Every time you get a new boss it's very insecure,'' 
     Conlon said. ``Your employment is dependent on the sanity of 
     your supervisor. So be the supervisor.''
       He started as well to purchase ownership shares in the 
     business from Leunig's owner, Robert Fuller, intending with 
     his business partner, chef Donnell Collins, to become a 50-50 
     owner of the restaurant. Conlon expects the deal will be 
     finalized May 1, he said.
       ``Isn't that America?'' Conlon said. ``Isn't that what 
     everybody should do? Get a job, do your best at it, and don't 
     pass up opportunities. It's an honorable profession. If 
     you're good at it, you can live a good life.''

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