WHEREAS, The Tacoma Guitar Company was started in 1995 and has grown to become the third largest guitar manufacturer in the United States; and
     WHEREAS, All Tacoma Guitar Company guitars are crafted in the State of Washington from the finest quality solid wood; and
     WHEREAS, The Tacoma Guitar Company was awarded the 2003 Marco Polo Award for small and medium-sized businesses; and
     WHEREAS, The award was given out by the Tacoma World Trade Center on the basis of outstanding contributions to the region through international trade; and
     WHEREAS, The Tacoma Guitar Company has more than 450 active dealers in the United States, 26 Canadian dealers, and 25 international distributors; and
     WHEREAS, The Tacoma Guitar Company sells more than 60 models of guitars to over two dozen countries; and
     WHEREAS, Tacoma guitars are among the most innovative and high quality instruments in the world; and
     WHEREAS, Tacoma guitars are favored by many world-renowned artists including Peter Frampton, Bonnie Raitt, and Bob Dylan;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate congratulate the Tacoma Guitar Company for its recent acquisition of the Marco Polo Award and recognize the manufacturer as an outstanding contributor to the City of Tacoma, the County of Pierce, and to the State of Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Ferdinand Boyce, Tacoma Guitar Company President.