Senate Concurrent Resolution 19
Whereas Leslie (Les)
Schwab, a native son of Oregon, was born in Bend, Oregon, on October 3, 1917,
and passed away on May 18, 2007; and
Whereas Les Schwab began
his schooling in a railroad boxcar at Brooks-Scanlon’s central
Whereas Les Schwab,
orphaned at age 15, supported himself and his siblings by delivering the Oregon
Journal newspaper; and
Whereas Les Schwab’s
efficiency and tenacity resulted in his eventual takeover of all nine newspaper
routes in
Whereas Les Schwab found
the determination to complete his education and graduated from
Whereas Les Schwab
married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Harlan, and was the father of two
children, Harlan and Margaret; and
Whereas Les Schwab
served his country honorably with the Air Cadets in World War II; and
Whereas upon his return
from the war, Les Schwab spent nine years in Bend as the circulation manager of
The Bulletin; and
Whereas Les Schwab began
his business ventures in 1952 with his purchase of the franchise shop O.K.
Rubber Welders in Prineville for $11,000; and
Whereas in 1956 Les
Schwab separated from the franchise and changed the store name to Les Schwab
Tire Centers, eventually expanding into seven states, with 410 stores and sales
in 2006 in excess of $1.6 billion; and
Whereas J.D. Power and
Associates for four consecutive years ranked Les Schwab Tire Centers as the
best national passenger vehicle and light truck tire retailer in customer
satisfaction; and
Whereas Les Schwab was
awarded the national Dealer of the Year by Modern Tire Dealer magazine in 2000;
and
Whereas Les Schwab
survived the death of his son, Harlan, who was the 31-year-old vice president
of Les Schwab Tire Centers when he was killed in an automobile accident in
1971; and
Whereas Les Schwab
survived the death of his daughter, Margie Denton, who had served as
chairperson of Les Schwab Tire Centers and who passed away in 2005; and
Whereas Les Schwab
suffered a heart attack and was forced to give up day-to-day operations of the
company but continued to come to work every day; and
Whereas Les Schwab
understood that his employees were his company’s greatest asset; and
Whereas Les Schwab
created the Les Schwab Retirement Trust, putting aside 15 percent of his
employees’ earnings into an employee trust fund account; and
Whereas Les Schwab,
outraged at the cost of liability insurance, decided to self-insure his
company; and
Whereas the employee
benefits that Les Schwab offered, such as no-premium medical coverage for his
employees and their families, were second to none; and
Whereas Les Schwab
shared generously with employees through the employee profit share program; and
Whereas Les Schwab
valued and rewarded the principles of self-reliance and loyalty; and
Whereas Les Schwab’s
company was invaluable for its stabilization of the economy of
Whereas Les Schwab gave
back to his community in countless ways; and
Whereas when Les Schwab
passed away May 18, 2007, his wife Dorothy and his grandchildren and
great-grandchildren were at his side; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the
Legislative Assembly of the State of
That we, the members of
the Seventy-fourth Legislative Assembly, express our gratitude for Les Schwab’s
years of service to Oregon’s business economy, for the profound substance of
his work, for his belief in his employees and love of the customer, for the
lasting effect his efforts and service will have on the industries of Oregon
and for the extraordinary example he has set for all Oregonians who endeavor to
serve their communities and their employees through entrepreneurship; and be it
further
Resolved, That a copy of
this resolution be sent to Les Schwab’s wife, Dorothy, and to their
grandchildren, Diana, Alan, Leslie and Julie.
Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 25, 2007
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