[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4660]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF IRVIN WARREN AND HIS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RENEE L. ELLMERS

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 2016

  Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Irvin Warren was born to 
a rural farming family in Sampson County, North Carolina, where he 
spent his early years learning the value of hard, honest work and the 
importance of education. Later Mr. Warren pursued higher education at 
both East Carolina and North Carolina State Universities; Mr. Warren 
acquired his Master's degree in Education. During his tenure in school 
he returned home on the weekends to continue working on his family's 
farm.
   Upon graduation, Mr. Warren became a professor and it was during 
this time that his Uncle offered him a partnership in an auto parts 
business. To follow this new aspiration, Mr. Warren secured a loan from 
his mother and started Warren Oil Company in 1976 with only three 
employees.
   Mr. Warren expanded his company over the next few decades, growing 
to over 450 employees and packaging oil products under its own brand, 
and for other companies. The company has expanded across the country, 
distributing its product across the United States and in over 49 
countries globally. Warren Oil Company is currently the largest 
independent lubricant manufacturer in North America. Mr. Warren's grit 
and persistence have allowed for him to remain competitive with multi-
national oil and gas corporations such as Exxon and BP.
   Even through this impressive growth Mr. Warren has never wavered in 
his commitment to his employees--even referring to them as part of his 
own family--furthermore, he continued to give back to the community.
   His generosity, commitment to service and love for people is 
evident. He has provided relief funding for events such as the 
earthquake in Haiti in 2010--even personally visiting the country 
during this tragedy and remaining onsite during a significant portion 
of the recovery process.
   Perhaps most notably, Mr. Warren has also provided several all-
expenses-paid tours for WW II veterans to visit the D.C. museums and 
memorials, assuring that priority was given to those who had never 
been. Mr. Warren is committed to continuing these trips until each 
veteran has had the opportunity to see the Washington sites.
   This self-driven entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with the generosity 
and family-like connection to his employees should be a model for 
aspiring business people across the United States. Through hard work 
and dedication, Mr. Warren has managed to create a highly competitive 
business while still remaining deeply connected to his hometown of 
Dunn, North Carolina.

                          ____________________