Baylor Honors Nine Texas Family Businesses

by Alan Hunt

Family businesses from Waco, Belton, Houston, Corpus Christi, Mount Pleasant, Miles and Livingston were honored Oct. 17 as winners in the 13th annual Texas Family Business of the Year competition, sponsored by Baylor's Institute for Family Business.
The awards were presented by Dr. Terry Maness, dean of the Hankamer School of Business, and J. David Allen, director of Baylor's John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship, at a banquet held in the Barfield Drawing Room in the Bill Daniel Student Center.
More than 100 businesses across the Lone Star State were nominated for the contest, which honors top firms demonstrating strong business and family/community values. Judges included family business consultants, advisers and principals of family firms.
This year's award winners are: Small family business (50 or fewer employees) - Cochran, Blair & Potts, Belton; medium family business (51-250 employees) - Kanaly Trust Co., Houston; large family business (more than 250 employees) - Whataburger Inc., Corpus Christi; community commitment award - Priefert Manufacturing Company Inc., Mount Pleasant; family values award - Tapia Dairies, Miles, and Powers Embroidery/Chenille, Waco; fastest-growing award - Escapees Inc., Livingston; founders award - The Dwyer Group, Waco; and well-managed award - The Premier Company, Houston.
For more information about the competition, contact Mary Abrahams of the Institute for Family Business at (254) 710-4159 or Mary_Abrahams@baylor.edu. Information on the Texas Family Business of the Year Award program can also be found at http://business.baylor.edu/entrepreneur.