Attaboys
Fifth Avenue has received numerous awards over the years, and here are a few examples. It is nice to know something about the company you do business with and to know they are willing to give back to the community and help other local businesses to grow and prosper.
And here are some notes of praise!
The Penalty of Leadership
In every field of human endeavor, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leadership be vested in a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, in literature, in music, in industry, the reward and the punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition, the punishment fierce denial and detraction. When a man’s work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of the envious few. If his work is merely mediocre, he will be left severely alone. If he achieves a masterpiece it will set a million tongues wagging. Jealousy does not protrude its forked tongue at the artist who produces a common-place painting. Whatsoever you write, or paint, or play, or sing, or build; no one will strive to surpass or to slander you unless your work be stamped with the seal of genius.
In 1997 Fifth Avenue Antique Auto Parts received a "Moto Award" for the design and content of the "Alternator Gazette" Brochure/Catalog. Among the entrants were brochures and catalogs presented from companies around the world including General Motors and Ford public relations/marketing departments. Fifth Avenue had the only two-color brochure entered. The Gazette captured the top award. The "Moto Award" is the highest award given by The International Motor Press Association.
In 1998 Fifth Avenue Antique Auto Parts was presented an "Award of Merit" from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing for "Outstanding Marketing" of a Kansas product. Fifth Avenue Antique Auto Parts was nominated by Fred Rice, Director of the Small Business Development Center at Kansas State University. Fifth Avenue Antique Auto Parts was often used as a business model by the Kansas State University Small Business Development Center as an example of a successful Kansas Company.
See two examples of letters sent to Randy by legislative leaders!
June 7, 1999, letter from Gary Sherrer, Lieutenant Governor
June 1, 1999, letter from Jim Ryun, U. S. House of Representatives
The Penalty of Leadership continued ...
Long after a great work has been done, those who are disappointed or envious continue to cry out that it cannot be done. Spiteful little voices in the domain of art were raised against our own Whistler as a mountebank, long after the big world had acclaimed him its greatest artistic genius. Multitudes flocked to Bayreuth to worship at the musical shrine of Wagner, while the little group of those whom he had dethroned and displaced argued angrily that he was no musician at all. The little world continued to protest that Fulton could never build a steamboat, while the big world flocked to the river banks to see his boat steam by. The Leader is assailed because he is a Leader, and the effort to equal him is merely added proof of that leadership. Failing to equal or to excel, the follower seeks to depreciate and to destroy, but only confirms once more the superiority of that which he strives to supplant. There is nothing new in this, it is as old as the world and as old as the human passions of envy, fear, greed, ambition, and the desire to surpass. And it all avails nothing. If the leader truly leads, he remains the leader. Master Poet, Master Painter, Master Workman; each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels through the ages. That which is great makes itself known, no matter how loud the clamor of denial. That which deserves to live, Lives. ©Copyright 1915 Cadillac Motor Division.