COLUMBIA — MidwayUSA, a Columbia-based Internet retailer for *shooting supplies, was selected to receive the 2009 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke contacted MidwayUSA on Monday to inform it of the news.
"What a thrill it is to receive this recognition from the National Institute of Standards and Quality," Larry Potterfield, founder and CEO of MidwayUSA, said in a news release. "MidwayUSA has always focused on improving the way we serve our customers. The Baldrige National Quality Award helps acknowledge we're on the right track for serving our customers."
Congress established the award in 1987 to recognize organizations in the United States for achievements in quality and performance; it is given by the president.
"This year's recipients have shown how quality, innovation and an unending quest for excellence help strengthen our nation and brighten the future of all Americans," Obama said in the news release that announced the award recipients.
The other four recipients are: