BAYLOR UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES TOP TEXAS FAMILY BUSINESSES OF 2010.(Awards list) - States News Service

Waco, Texas -- The following information was released by Baylor University:

Baylor University's Institute for Family Business will honor the 2010 Texas Family Business of the Year award winners and finalists at an awards banquet on Thursday, Nov. 4, at Baylor's Bill Daniel Student Center.

The Texas Family Business of the Year awards program recognizes outstanding firms whose families demonstrate a commitment to each other and to business continuity, and who are responsive to the needs of their employees, communities and industries.

'Starting, owning and operating a family business is the foundation of the American Dream,' said J. David Allen, director of the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship at Baylor's Hankamer School of Business. 'It is our privilege to honor the dedicated, hard-working risk-takers in the state of Texas who contribute so much to our economic and social well-being.'

This year's winners are:

Small Family Business of the Year - DTAC - Midlothian and First Place Foods - Garland

Medium Family Business of the Year - Natural Bridge Caverns - Natural Bridge Caverns

Large Family Business of the Year - Associated Supply Company (ASCO Equipment) - Lubbock

Family Values Award - Southwest Sealants - Georgetown

Well-Managed Award - Total Office Solutions - Dallas

Community Commitment Award - Birkman International - Houston

Fastest Growing Award - American Servoil - Fulshear

Founders Award - Chacon Autos - Dallas

Heritage Award - Hobbs Bonded Fibers - Waco

Finalists in the competition are: Barney Holland Oil Co., Fort Worth; Insurance Network of Texas, Giddings; Metallic Products Corp., Houston; Sabine Pipe, Kilgore; Studio Gallery, Waco; Texas Air Composites, Desoto; The Lawton Group, McKinney; and Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, Waco.

Through the Texas Family Business of the Year program and other activities, the Institute for Family Business fulfills its mission to provide a forum for the development and dissemination of information relevant to the health and continuity of family businesses. Other educational and planning programs available to family business owners through the Institute include special interest seminars and entrepreneurship training classes.

The undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business is ranked No. 2 nationally by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneurship magazine. Visit www.baylor.edu/business and follow the School on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Baylor_Business .