[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 12667-12668] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO GENE AND CAROLE VUKELIC ON THEIR 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ______ HON. BRIAN HIGGINS of new york in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Gene and Carole Vukelic on their 50th wedding anniversary. Gene and Carole have raised seven children, and their five sons, Paul, Jeff, Tim, Peter, and Matthew, all work for Try-It Distributing, the company Gene's father started in 1928 and a recipient of the Canisius College Center for Entrepreneurship Family Business of the Year. A devoted Western New Yorker, Gene was raised in Lackawanna, New York and attended Canisius High School and LeMoyne College in Syracuse. The son of a Croatian immigrant, Gene learned the value of hard work and tenacity in the face of adversity from his father, Stephen. Stephen only went to school until the sixth grade and worked wherever he could, including at the Bethlehem Steel plant in Lackawanna. According to Gene, however, Stephen Vukelic was ``an entrepreneur at heart''. When he was 28 years old, Stephen opened the Try-It Bottling Works company in a small building with one truck, and started bottling soft drinks in Lackawanna. Today, Try-It Distributing Co., Inc. is a hugely successful beverage firm. Gene has carried on his father's spirit of entrepreneurship and is now Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Try-It Distributing Company. His five sons work with him to develop the business their great grandfather started 80 years ago. Madam Speaker, it is a great honor for me to recognize Gene and Carole Vukelic for their tenacity, passion, and dedication to the Western New York community. I would like to offer my sincere congratulations in celebration of their 50 golden years together, and extend my best wishes to the Vukelics and their family on their 50th wedding anniversary. [[Page 12668]] ____________________