Baylor University To Honor 13 Texas Family Businesses
Family businesses from throughout Texas will be honored Oct. 23 during the 14th annual Texas Family Business of the Year' competition, sponsored by Baylor University's Institute for Family Business.
The awards will be 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 at 6 p.m. in the Barfield Drawing Room in the Bill Daniel Student Center. Tom Dobson, CEO of Whataburger Inc., winner of last year's Texas Family Business of the Year award in the large business category, will be the keynote speaker.
Gov. Rick Perry issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 23-25, 2003, as Family Business Days in Texas and referred to the Texas Family Association and Scholarship Foundation, as well as Baylor University's Institute for Family Business, in the proclamation.
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 include family business consultants, advisers and principals of family firms.
This year's award winners are:
Small family business (50 or fewer employees) - Pulliam Pools, Fort Worth
Medium family business (51-250 employees) - Vent-a-Hood, Richardson
Large family business (more than 250 employees) - Al's Formal Wear, Houston
Community commitment award - Claffey Pools, Southlake
Family values award - M&F Western Products, Sulphur Springs
Fastest-growing award - WDS Partners LP, Fort Worth
Founders award - Groves Equipment Rental Co. Inc., Groves
Well-managed award - Galvotec Alloys Inc., McAllen.
Another group of five businesses will receive recognition as finalists in this year's competition. These firms are: Holland's Jewelry, San Angelo; Neutral Posture Inc., Bryan; Lowe's Supermarkets, Littlefield; Taylor Paint and Body Shop, Vernon; and Westy's Pharmacy, Lockhart.
For more information about the banquet or 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.