One of the greatest stories
on loyalty I've heard of in my life
is a true story.
I m gonna pass on to you folks
a beautiful story about loyalty.
Fifty years ago,
Delta Airlines started in 
Monroe, Louisiana.
A county agent named Woolman
called a friend named Biedenharn, 
and said, You know something 
about flying, and I know something
about agriculture.
Let's get together and see if we can
figure out a way to fly this poison
on this cotton
where it ll kill the boll weevils 
and it own't kill the farm.
Thus, through this experiment, 
Delta Airlines,
the professionals, 
were birthed.
They have been having the annual 
stockholders meeting
in Monroe, Louisiana,
in the small room at the bank
there in Monroe
that they chartered Delta Airlines in.
They have an annual stockholders 
meeting there every year.
Mr. Biedenharn always goes.
Mr. Biedenharn's father is from
Vicksburg, Mississippi- 
he bottled the first Coco Cola 
ever bottled in the world.
Joe Biedenharn Candy Company
is a beautiful tourist attraction at
Vicksburg, Mississippi right now.
You can go there and see it.
The last stockholder's meeting
of Delta Airlines
was held at the room in Monroe.
The moderator said
in a new business, 
a fancy dressed, good-looking man
from New York City
said,  Mr. Moderator,
Delta Airlines is a great airline-
we are the professionals,
and I want to see us start having
our annual meetings
some place other than
Monroe, Louisiana.
One year were outta go to Chicago, 
next year Memphis,
next year Baltimore,
next year Washington,
next year San Francisco, 
and lets change it around.
And I move you sir
that the next stockholders meeting
not be in Monroe, Louisiana.
Second the motion!
Moderator said,
Is there anyone who wants to
speak to this motion?
A man got up from New Jersey,
well dressed, said,
''Now Mr. Moderator,
I represent 80
(laughs)
80,000 shares
of Delta Airlines stock,
and I intend to vote to move 
this meeting out of Monroe.
Any other discussion on a motion
before we vote?''
A good-looking gentlemen
in his seventies stood up,
white-haired, 
three-piece suit, he said,
''Mr. Moderator,
my name is Bernard W. Biedenharn,
and I represent 580,000 shares
of Delta Airlines stock,
and I'd like to take this opportunity
to welcome all of y'all 
back to Monroe next year.''
(crowd laughs)
