The response to the employee ad was overwhelming, said the company. First, people in the local community mentioned the ad to the family. Then the ad was mentioned in CSP and other industry publications. And on a December 8 visit to Washington, D.C., Bill Douglass was told about an entry that was made by Hall into the Congressional Record that also mentioned the ad.
The employees decided they wanted to take it a step further. They said they wanted "to tell hundreds on the other side of the world about the ad and [their] amazing employers."
A fuel and oil distribution company based in Sherman, Texas, Douglass Distributing is family owned, founded in 1981 by Bill and Joan Douglass. It is now into its second generation, with their children, Brad Douglass and Diane McCarty, at the helm. It services Lone Star, its chain of company-owned convenience stores, as well as independently owned c-stores throughout North Texas. It delivers commercial fuels, lubricants and propane to industries and residences.
For the Douglass family's surprise gift this year, the employees sent more than 100 boxes to soldiers. With the contributions collected, they purchased carloads of small items such as candy, jerky, chips, toiletry items, socks and bandanas, among other goods. With the assistance of many longtime Douglass friends, they went to the www.AnySoldier.com website, where they obtained the addresses they needed.
This year's gift was made possible by the direct intervention of Representative Ralph Hall (R-Texas) and his Washington office staff, the company said. Through Hall's efforts, the Pentagon opened its network for 24 hours so the staffs of Douglass Distributing and its Lone Star Food Stores could find and address the more than 100 boxes to specific U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army units manning these outposts.
The staffs sent the boxes priority mail secretly over the Thanksgiving holiday, and two weeks later, they began receiving e-mails and letters from the recipients. They read these emotional thank yous at the company dinner to a room full of teary-eyed listeners.
The employees said in a statement: "For many of us, this is one of the most important things we have ever done. We encourage others to send a box or two-honor yourself, honor someone else. Whatever the reason, honor the soldiers who are fighting every day so that we can lead the lives that we do. Freedom isn't free-there is a cost! We ask everyone to remember our Armed Forces in your thoughts and prayers every day and remember the gift they have given you this holiday season!"
Bill Douglass asked, "What can you say to adequately convey your appreciation to a great group of co-workers who would say and do this great thing in our honor? I know these folks grew personally as a result of their commitment of time and personal financial sacrifice to extend the Christmas spirit to Americans who will not have it nice this holiday. This gift of love and support for our troops makes us proud to be associated with a great bunch of Americans here in Sherman."
Paul Reuter, president, CEO and editorial director of CSP, said, "Bill Douglass and his company are a great example of what makes America the 'land of the free and the home of the brave.' Personally, I want to send all our thanks to the Douglass team for sharing this with us. You are terrific people. I wish all in this great industry my hope that the year ahead will the best year ever for you and your loved ones. Happy New Year from all of us at CSP."
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