Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Bob McInturf upon being honored with the ``Lifetime Achievement Award'' at the 2009 San Joaquin Winegrowers Association 7th Annual San Joaquin Valley Wine & Grape Industry Forum. The luncheon will be held in Fresno, California on Friday, November 20, 2009.

Mr. Bob McInturf began farming in Madera and Fresno counties in 1946. For approximately fifty years he has been an integral member of the farming community; promoting farmers and small business owners, and working closely with vineyards around the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. McInturf was one of the original incorporators of Allied Grape Growers and served as President from 1956 through 1987. He has also served on the board of directors for Sun Maid Raisin Growers, the Agricultural Council of California, the National Council of Farm Cooperatives, the California Association of Winegrape Growers and the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association. Mr. McInturf is the past chairman of the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the University of California.

Mr. McInturf has worked on many boards and committees representing the grape and agricultural industry on the local, state, national and international arenas. For many years he was involved with the marketing order of grapes for crushing and served as chairman of the Specialty Crop Committee for Trade Negotiations with the European Community Market.

Mr. McInturf and his wife, Rosalie, had lived in Fresno most of their lives. After Mr. McInturf retired they moved to Roseville, California. They have two children, Cindy and Stan. Mr. McInturf has been involved with his church and many church activities throughout his life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Bob McInturf upon being honored with the ``Lifetime Achievement Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. McInturf many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Beverly Scott as the outgoing President of the Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors. Ms. Scott will be recognized at the annual installation luncheon for the Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors on November 20, 2009 in Oakhurst, California.

The Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors (YGAOR) first began as the Mountain Co-Op in 1998 with a group of eight volunteers. Today, the group has a paid professional staff and ownership of the Association's building. YGAOR was responsible for developing one of the first computerized Multiple Listing Systems, which continues to operate today with the latest technology. They work very closely with the California Association of Realtors by providing leadership at both the statewide and regional levels. YGAOR provides educational opportunities for its members, as well as fundraising activities that benefit local non- profit organizations and scholarship programs.

Ms. Beverly Scott is a fifth-generation native of Eastern Madera County. After graduating from Yosemite High School, she attended Bakersfield City College and earned her Bachelor's degree from California State University, Bakersfield. Ms. Scott has a very diverse history, including service in the United States Army, working as an editor, a photojournalist, a medical instructor, a realtor, a volunteer and a mother to four children: Skyler, Heavenly, Sierra and Raylynn. She is a true entrepreneur; the manager of Oakhurst Real Estate, and the general manager of National Computer Software, Inc.

With Ms. Scott's role at YGAOR, she has been a strong leader and provided a voice of optimism for local real estate. The 2009 Board Members worked closely with past Board Members to create a new strategic plan and to provide guidelines for defining a strategy, making decisions and allocating YGAOR resources. The new strategic plan brought an updated mission statement: ``The Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors is committed to professional excellence for the success of its members in all aspects of the real estate industry.'' With this mission statement in mind, the 2009 Board, with the leadership of Ms. Scott, established four goals: Advocacy, Communication, Education and Organizational Excellence.

Ms. Scott is a leader in the real estate industry, as well as in the Oakhurst community. She has been a member of YGAOR since 2004, and has served on various committees over the past five years. Ms. Scott has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District since 2006, serving as Vice President in 2009; the Eastern Madera County/Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce since 2001, serving as President in 2004, the Wild Wonderful King Vintage Museum since 2004, serving as an Officer and a Board Member, Local Water and Sewer Committees since 2002 and is a

Charter Member of the New Community United Methodist Church. She is a past-president of the Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary, past-president of the California State Society of American Medical Technologists, past- board member of the Madera County Workforce Investment Board, past- member of the Boys and Girls Club, and past-Chaplain for the Oakhurst Elks Lodge. For her service to the community, Ms. Scott was the Golden Apple Award Recipient for 2005/2006 and was named ``Oakhurst Town Mother'' in 2004 by Angels Among Us, Woman of the Year.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Beverly Scott on her achievements. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Ms. Scott and the Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Vincent Petrucci upon being honored with the ``Lifetime Achievement Award'' at the 2009 San Joaquin Winegrowers Association 7th Annual San Joaquin Valley Wine & Grape Industry Forum. The luncheon will be held in Fresno, California, on Friday, November 20, 2009.

Mr. Vincent Petrucci was born on July 13, 1913, in California. He attended the University of California, Davis where he earned his bachelors of science degree in pomology in 1947 and his masters of science degree in horticulture in 1948. Upon completion of his masters, he was hired by Fresno State College, now California State University Fresno, as a faculty member with the task of organizing and developing the curriculum and facilities of the viticulture and enology program. Mr. Petrucci played an instrumental role in developing the Viticulture and Enology Research Center which opened in 1985 where he has served as director and is currently director emeritus. He taught classes in grape and wine production, raisin production and processing and numerous other classes encompassing the field of viticulture. After 45 years, Mr. Petrucci retired in 1993 from California State University, Fresno and was awarded an honorary doctorate of science degree on May 28, 1994.

Over the years, Mr. Petrucci has served as a consultant, offering advice to many European and South American countries as well as China and Australia. He has been active in several organizations including the International Office of Wine and Vine, the American Society of Horticulture Science, the California Grape Growers Coalition, the University of California Grape Research Committee, the American Vineyard Foundation, and the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. He has also published numerous papers, journal, rticles and written books on the subject of wine and grape growing. Mr. Petrucci's involvement has resulted in the international recognition of the viticulture program at CSU Fresno. For his accomplishments, Mr. Petrucci received the CSU Fresno ``Outstanding Professor Award'' in 1971, was named Wine and Vines ``Man of the Year'' in 1981, received the ``Founder Award'' for Enology in 1985, CSU Fresno ``Meritorious Performance and Professional Promise Award'' in 1986, the University of California, Davis ``Distinguished Achievement Award'' in 1995 and the American Vineyard ``Outstanding Service Award'' in 1996.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Vincent Petrucci upon being honored with the ``Lifetime Achievement Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Petrucci many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate John Harris upon being awarded the ``Distinguished Citizen Award'' by the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Harris will be honored on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at a special luncheon at Harris Ranch.

Mr. John Harris was born and raised in Coalinga, California in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Harris attended and graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1965 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Agricultural Production/Agricultural Economics. While attending UC Davis, he was commissioned into the United States Army through the ROTC program.

Upon returning to the San Joaquin Valley, Mr. Harris began working on the family farm and ranch, Harris Farms. Harris Farms was founded in 1937 by Mr. Harris' parents, Jack and Teresa Harris. Over the years, the family business has grown to become one of the largest integrated farming operations in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The company produces over a dozen crops including almonds, citrus, tomatoes, lettuce, wine grapes and pistachios. The farm has also expanded to include Harris Ranch Beef Company, which is one of California's largest fed cattle processors, producing nearly two million pounds of beef per year.

In 1966, Mr. Harris and his father decided to devote a substantial part of the Harris Ranch farming and cattle operation to raising and training of Thoroughbred racehorses. The company provides six hundred acres to the Thoroughbreds and has bred and raced several of California's championship horses. In addition to the farm, the cattle ranch and the Thoroughbred Division, the Harris Company also has multiple restaurants and an inn. Today, with Mr. Harris serving as the Chairman of the Board for Harris Farms, the companies in total employ over fifteen hundred people and have gross sales exceeding three hundred million dollars.

Outside of operating Harris Farms, Mr. Harriss is involved with numerous organizations. He is a member of the board for the Water Growers Association and serves as Chair of the Water Committee. Mr. Harris also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Pacific Legal Foundation and is currently serving as Chair of Cattle PAC for the board of California Cattlemen's Association. He has been involved with the California Horse Racing Board since 2001 and is currently serving as Chairman of the board. Mr. Harris also serves on the boards of several agricultural related companies; including Sunny Cove Citrus, Los Gatos Tomato Products, Harris Woolf Almonds and California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Mr. Harris has worked with the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America for almost twenty years, hosting an annual luncheon to benefit the chapter. The lunch supports the Scouting programs in western Fresno County and Kings County. His concern and dedication to the youth of our area and his love of Scouting has kept him working with the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America and the growth of Scouting here in the San Joaquin Valley.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate John Harris upon being awarded the ``Distinguished Citizen Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Harris many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Fred Machado upon being named the ``2009 Agriculturist of the Year'' by the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Machado will be recognized at the annual Agricultural Awards luncheon on November 18, 2009 in Fresno, California.

In 1932, Mr. Fred Machado was born in the Azores region of Portugal. At the age of sixteen he migrated to the United States with his family. When he arrived in the U.S. he began working as a farm laborer doing jobs that included milking cows for two hundred and fifty dollars a month. He enjoyed the work and took to the dairy industry quickly, but decided to join the United States Navy. In 1955, after leaving the Navy he had saved enough money to purchase a twenty-acre plot in Easton, just west of Fresno, California. During the 1950's, Mr. Machado established a dairy with fifty cows, the company grew, quickly reaching fifteen hundred heifers.

Over the years, Mr. Machado's land increased from twenty-acres to an eight hundred-acre farming operation that produces almonds, grapes, orchards and feed crops. Until this year the farm also included the dairy, however with unprecedented low prices for milk, the Machado family decided to retire from the dairy business.

Mr. Machado is a very active member of the community. He has served on the boards of the National Milk Producers Federation, Challenge Dairy, Danish Creamery and numerous community organizations. Mr. Machado has been active with the Fresno County Farm Bureau for over fifty years, serving in multiple leadership positions including serving as the Eastern Center Co-Chairman, and as president from 1972-1974.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Frank Machado upon being named the ``2009 Agriculturist of the Year.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Machado many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Errotabere Ranch upon being the recipient of the 2009 Baker, Peterson and Franklin Ag Business Award by the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Dan Errotabere of Errotabere Ranch will be recognized at the annual Agricultural Awards luncheon on November 18, 2009 in Fresno, California.

Errotabere Ranch is a family operated farm in Riverdale, California and was first established in the 1920's by Mr. Jean Errotabere. By 1979, when Mr. Errotabere passed away, the farm had expanded to include 800 acres of cotton. Today, brothers Dan, Jean Jr., and Remi operate a six thousand-acre diversified farming operation which includes pima cotton, almonds, pistachios, tomatoes, garlic, onions, alfalfa seed, wheat, lettuce and cantaloupes in the Riverdale and the Five Points areas. Each brother is responsible for a specific facet of the business including the finances, crop production and farm equipment. Over the years the family has applied progressive water techniques and technology to better utilize the scarce water resources on the ranch.

The Errotabere family has a long history of community involvement. They have held many leadership roles in the agricultural industry and community organizations. Dan has been an advocate for agricultural water issues, serving on several water-related boards. Dan is also heavily involved with the Fresno County Farm Bureau, currently serving as president. All three brothers are actively involved with Riverdale schools and the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at California State University, Fresno. The family supports Community Medical Centers, Children's Hospital Central California and has been active in the local United Cerebral Palsy Association.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Errotabere Ranch upon being honored as the 2009 Baker, Peterson and Franklin Ag Business Award. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Errotabere Ranch many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague Jim Costa, to commend and congratulate Robert Fox upon being honored the ``Citizen Soldier Award'' by Fresno City College. Major Fox was recognized on Friday, November 6, 2009 at the annual Veterans Peace Memorial event held at Fresno City College in Fresno, California.

Major Robert Fox enlisted in the Indiana National Guard in 1962, and became the first African American to be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant by the Officer Candidate School at the Indiana Military Academy. He served with National Guard units in Indiana and Iowa prior to fulfilling his service obligations. In 1980 Major Fox received a direct commission as a Captain (03) and was assigned to the 49th Military Police Brigade of the California Army National Guard.

Shortly after Major Fox assumed the Dean's position at Fresno City College, he was transferred to the 195th Transportation Battalion in Fresno, where he served as a staff officer. He was later selected to command the 2668th Transportation Company. During his tenure as Commander, the 2668th was selected on short notice to participate in Operation Team Spirit in the Republic of Korea. The unit was required to prepare assigned equipment, personnel and supplies to sustain the unit for forty days under combat conditions. The unit exceeded all time requirements in its preparation and performed in a meritorious manner during the exercise.

After assignment to the 115th Support Group in Roseville, California, Major Fox returned to the 185th Transportation Battalion with the rank of Major (04) as Battalion S-2/3 with the responsibility of training and operations. In 1994, Major Fox retired from the California National Guard after serving as Battalion Executive Director.

Major Fox's commitment to the welfare, professional development and career advancement of the non-commissioned officers and junior commissioned officers under his leadership were hallmarks of his service. His military education includes the completion of the Adjunct General Corps, Military Police Corps and Transportation Corps Basic Officer Courses; the Military Police Corps and Transportation Corps Advanced Officer Courses and attendance at the Command and General Staff School. For his service, Major Fox has been awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Cluster and the Army Achievement Medal.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Costa and I rise today to commend and congratulate Major Robert Fox upon being recognized as a ``Citizen Soldier.'' I invite my colleagues to join us in wishing Major Fox many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague Jim Costa, to commend and congratulate COL Jonathan Flaugher upon being recognized as a ``Citizen Soldier'' by Fresno City College. Colonel Flaugher was recognized on Friday, November 6, 2009 at the annual Veterans Peace Memorial event held at Fresno City College in Fresno, California.

COL Jonathan Flaugher assumed command of the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard in Fresno, California in October 2004. He is a ``Command Pilot'' with over 4,000 hours of Air Force jet and fighter time, and is currently an F-16 Instructor Pilot. He graduated from North Carolina State University in 1977, with a bachelor of arts degree in History, and entered the United States Air Force through the ROTC program.

Colonel Flaugher was on active duty until 1995, and he has been with the 144th in Fresno ever since. Prior to his assignment as the 144th Wing Commander, Colonel Flaugher served as the Active Duty Advisor, 194th Squadron Flight Commander and Operations Officer, 144th Logistics Group Commander, 144th Maintenance Group Commander and 144th Operations Group Commander. He graduated from the United States Air Force Air War College in-residence program at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in 1998. Previous assignments include a staff tour with HQ USAFE and flying assignments in the F-16 at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, the F-106 at Griffiss Air Force Base in New York. After pilot training at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona he was assigned to the T-33 at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. His first Air Force assignment was with the 726th Tactical Control Squadron base at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Costa and I rise today to commend and congratulate COL Jonathan Flaugher upon being recognized as a ``Citizen Soldier.'' I invite my colleagues to join us in wishing Colonel Flaugher many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Ronald McDonald Charities of the Central Valley upon 25 years of service. The organization will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Third Annual Red Heart Ball held in Fresno, California.

Ronald McDonald Charities of the Central Valley operates the Central Valley Ronald McDonald House that is affiliated with Children's Hospital Central California. The current house was built in 2001 and is adjacent to Children's Hospital. The 3-winged home has 18 bedrooms with multiple recreation and relaxation rooms. The house provides services for the families of the patients at Children's Hospital. These services include home cooked meals, private bedrooms and bathrooms, playrooms for children, recreational activities, toiletries and laundry materials, emotional support and clothing when necessary. It has been found that being just steps away from their sick child, along with the services offered, reduces a tremendous amount of stress for families and the patients. Further, children who are near their families while ill are more likely to heal faster.

Currently, the Ronald McDonald House runs at 99 percent occupancy. In recent years, hundreds of families have been turned away. With fundraisers, amazing support from the community and a recent 8-acre land donation adjacent to Children's Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House is looking to create a larger home in the future to meet the increasing demands for the services that they provide.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Ronald McDonald Charities

of the Central Valley upon its 25th anniversary of service to the community and the families of patients at Children's Hospital Central California. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Ronald McDonald Charities many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Guilds of Children's Hospital Central California upon 60 years of community service, philanthropy, and advocacy for the hospital. The Guilds will celebrate their 60th anniversary on Thursday, November 12, 2009, in Fresno, California.

In 1949 five women, Agnes Crockett, Gail Goodwin, Helen Maupin Ross, Carolyn Peck and Patty Randall, recognized a common need for a dedicated pediatric hospital in California's San Joaquin Valley. As the five women moved forward with their vision, they realized this would need to be a community project, and the idea of a ``guild'' system emerged. Since then, the Guilds have had two primary objectives; to raise financial support and to develop ongoing community support for Children's Hospital Central California.

On January 28, 1949, the first public meeting was held to discuss a ``hospital for children only.'' By September the first Guild, Llanada Guild, was established and the initial fundraiser for Valley Children's Hospital was held. With Mrs. T. Wayne Simpson as President, Llanada Guild raised $5,477 at a fundraiser held at Giffen Ranch. In just 2 years, the Guild had raised well over $3,000.

On September 12, 1951, a ground breaking ceremony for the hospital was held. It was through the fundraising efforts of the original Guilds that Valley Children's Hospital was constructed in Fresno, California on donated land. Fourteen months after the ground breaking ceremony, Valley Children's Hospital was open for patients. The first patient, a young girl with a stomach ache was admitted on November 12, 1952, and the first surgery performed at the hospital was an appendectomy on the young girl.

During the early 1990s Valley Children's Hospital started the plans for a new, state-of-the-art facility. After settling on a 50-acre site in Madera County, just north of the Madera-Fresno County line, planning and construction of the new facility took almost a decade. For almost 50 years, Valley Children's Hospital provided medical and emergency services to children through out the San Joaquin Valley at the same facility. On August 31, 1998, at 1 minute past midnight, the move to the new facility began and the new hospital was renamed Children's Hospital Central California.

Today, Children's Hospital has a service area that covers 10 counties in central California. The hospital treats more inpatient cases than any other pediatric hospital north of San Diego, making this hospital the second largest children's hospital in the State of California. It is a 338 bed facility, and is 1 of the 10 largest hospitals of its type in the Nation. The hospital performs over 9,000 surgeries annually. The Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units have some of the lowest mortality rates in the nation, while treating some of the sickest children. The Craycroft Cancer Center at Children's Hospital is a full member of the nationally recognized Children's Oncology Group, and sees more than 100 new cases every year. The Wilson Heart Center has pioneered cardiac care for half a century, and performed one of the first open-heart surgeries in the area. It is also the first pediatric hospital west of the Rocky Mountains to be awarded Magnet Nursing status and received re-designation in 2008.

With the vision and ingenuity of the first five women, the Guilds have helped to make Children's Hospital what it is today. For the past 60 years the Guilds have been the largest financial contributor to the hospital, raising almost $22 million. The hospital has used these funds to expand both services and the hospital. In June 2009, the Guilds voted to support the largest single donation to the hospital, a $4 million commitment for the continuation of the Guilds Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Endowment. In 60 years funds have been raised through the fundraising efforts of all of the Guilds; Llanada (established 1949, disbanded), Kings (established 1949), La Feliz (established 1949), Los Rancheros (established 1949), Pleasant Valley (established 1949, disbanded), Alegria (established 1950), Corcoran (established 1950, disbanded), Las Madrinas (established 1950), Panoche (established 1950, disbanded), Rio Reyes (established 1950, disbanded), Sequoia (established 1950), Tenaya (established 1950), La Caridad (established 1951, disbanded), La Tienda (established 1952), Holiday (established 1953), La Comida (established 1953), Children's Service (established 1950s, disbanded), Los Ninos (established 1950s, disbanded), Selma (established 1950s, disbanded), Las Amigas (established 1950s, disbanded), La Sierra (established 1999), La Visionaria (established 2007), Del Corazon (established 2008) and Los Ninos Hispanic (established 2008).

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate the Guilds of Children's Hospital Central California on 60 years of giving. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing the Guilds many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Barry Bauer upon being awarded the ``Distinguished Citizen Award'' by the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Bauer will be honored on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at the annual Distinguished Citizen Dinner in Fresno, California.

Mr. Barry Bauer was born and raised in Fresno, California and attended Fresno High School. As a child, Mr. Bauer helped at his father's liquor and sporting goods store. He was a busy child, involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. During his scouting career he had accumulated enough merit badges to become a Star Scout and worked his way to becoming a Life Scout.

Mr. Bauer graduated from California State University, Fresno with a bachelor's of science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1968. During college, he worked evenings at Bank of America, taught data processing classes at Fresno City College and during the summer recess he worked as a programmer for IBM at various accounts around the Central Valley. During his senior year in college Mr. Bauer joined the Air National Guard unit in Fresno. He held various positions, including Base Comptroller and Combat Support Commander. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 23 years of service.

Upon graduation, Mr. Bauer was offered a position with IBM, working from the Fresno and Bay Area offices. He retired after 25 years of service with IBM. Mr. Bauer has always been very active in a multitude of activities; he

has a commercial pilot license, a real estate broker license, a lifetime junior college teaching credential and a ham radio license. Since 1998, he has served as President of the family business, Herb Bauer Sporting Goods.

Mr. Bauer is currently a member of the Fresno County Recreation and Wildlife Commission that reports to supervisor Debbie Poochigian. He has been active consultant to legislators regarding firearm issues, and has served as the chairman of the Fresno Friends of the NRA for 10 years. With this position, he has approved over $20,000 in grants to improve the shooting range at Chawanawkee. He also provides a discount to all scouts purchasing scouting related products at his store.

In his spare time, Mr. Bauer and his wife of 40 years, Rosemarie, enjoy traveling around the world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Barry Bauer upon being awarded the ``Distinguished Citizen Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Bauer many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Dave Wilson Nursery upon being named a ``Legend of Agriculture'' by the Ag Hall of Fame. Mr. Wilson was honored on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at the twelfth annual Ag Hall of Fame Dinner in Turlock, California.

Mr. Dave Wilson began his career working at Kirkman Nursery, a prominent tree nursery. It was at Kirkman Nursery that Mr. Wilson had the opportunity to grow and develop Junebudded orchard trees. After fourteen years, Mr. Wilson departed from Kirkman Nursery and established his own nursery in 1938. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, he and his wife, Isabel, along with his wife's sister and brother-in-law, Pearle and Walter Mann, operated Empire Nursery, a garden center located east of Modesto, California. The nursery was renamed to Dave Wilson Nursery in the early 1940s. At this time, Mr. Wilson's son-in-law, John Wynne, joined the family business.

Mr. Wilson and Mr. Wynne grew commercial orchard trees in a partnership until the company was incorporated in 1957. Mr. Wynne became president of the nursery in 1962 and five years later purchased the new headquarters for the nursery along the Tuolumne River east of Hickman, California, where the headquarters remains today. In the mid 1960s, the nursery established a sales and distribution facility in Hughson, California. In 1966, Dave Wilson Nursery introduced the first tree fruit varieties developed by Floyd Zaiger, and the nursery remains the primary propagator and exclusive licensor of Mr. Zaiger varieties, with annual sales of over a million trees of patented varieties and rootstocks. In 1986 the sales and distribution facility was relocated to the nursery's growing grounds in Hickman to better facilitate management of the operation. In 1979, an office, test orchard and sales yard was established in Selma, California, which was later relocated to Reedley, California in 1995.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Dave Wilson Nursery upon being named as a ``Legends of Agriculture.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Dave Wilson Nursery many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Ron Emerzian upon being named ``Citizen of the Year'' by the American Legion, Post 74. Mr. Emerzian was recognized on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, at the 62nd annual Citizen of the Year dinner and Veterans Day observance in Modesto, California.

Mr. Ron Emerzian was born and raised in Modesto, California. Upon graduating from Stanford University, he moved back to his hometown. He went to work for E & J Gallo Winery, where his primary focus was on sales and distribution. He also served as the vice president of sales, vice president of organizational development and vice president of corporate giving and community affairs for the company. After 47 years with E & J Gallo Winery, Mr. Emerzian retired.

Since his retirement, Mr. Emerzian has turned his attention to community involvement. He has served as the chairman of the board for several local non-profits, including California State University, Stanislaus, the United Way, YMCA, Stanislaus Partners in Education, and the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County. Currently, Mr. Emerzian serves as the chairman of the United Way Children's Council and the After-school Coalition of Stanislaus. He serves on the board of Save Mart Cares, Juline's Foundation for Children, and the United Samaritans, which serves 35,000 meals to the hungry every month. He is also a member of the Modesto Rotary. Earlier this year, Mr. Emerzian was named chairman of the board for the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto.

Mr. Emerzian has been married to Janice for 44 years. They have two sons, Michael and Matthew. Michael attended Stanford and the University of California, Los Angeles, and is currently a physician living in Sacramento with his wife and their two children. Matthew attended the University of California, Los Angeles for his bachelor's degree and his graduate work. He currently lives in Los Angeles and has recently co- authored a book ``Every Monday Matters''.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Ron Emerzian upon being named ``Citizen of the Year.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Emerzian many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate End the Silence upon being awarded with the ``Community Health Champions Award'' at the 2009 West Fresno Health Care Coalition's 5th annual ``This is Your Life of Service'' lunch and awards ceremony. This year the ceremony will be held at the Radisson Hotel Conference Center in Fresno, California on Tuesday, November 3rd.

End the Silence is a breast cancer awareness project that has been created as a community-based program specifically designed for targeting the African American community, especially in West Fresno, California. The goal and purpose is to increase education, promote and heighten awareness, create support services and resources for the underserved African American population in West Fresno regarding breast cancer and overall breast health.

The need for End the Silence was discovered when national, state and local statistics were pointing to the high risk of African American women developing, and dying from, breast cancer. Studies have shown that African American women are more likely to pass away from breast cancer than white women. Further, the National Cancer Institute found that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among African American women. This reality is often due to economic, social and cultural factors; including misinformation about breast cancer, treatments and lack of access to health which ultimately leads to late diagnosis.

End the Silence targets West Fresno's underserved and underinsured African American community. Over the span of the project, the organizers intend on reducing high breast cancer mortality risk. They expect to serve more than three hundred African American women and their families who will benefit from program services, including culturally competent and trained staff and advocates, specialized support groups and services, culturally appropriate health education, materials and resources and the opportunity for making their voices heard through advocacy activities. Five people that have made End the Silence successful are Charyce Haynes, Wilma Ruth Johnson, Edna Overall, Frances Davis and Adrian Carter.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate End the Silence upon being award the ``Community Health Champions Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing End the Silence many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Dolphas Trotter upon being awarded the ``Community Health Champions Award'' at the 2009 West Fresno Health Care Coalition's 5th annual ``This Is Your Life of Service'' lunch and awards ceremony. This year the ceremony will be held at the Radisson Hotel Conference Center in Fresno, California on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Mr. Dolphas Trotter was born in 1940 in Idabel, Oklahoma. In 1945 the Trotter family moved cross-country and settled in Southwest Fresno, California. Mr. Trotter attended Washington Union High School where he played football. During his senior year, he participated in the annual Fresno City-County All-Star game, which earned him a football scholarship to College of the Pacific, known today as University of the Pacific. Mr. Trotter graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor's degree and returned to Fresno and began working for Fresno County Department of Social Services.

Shortly after his return to Fresno, Mr. Trotter was drafted into the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1969. This experience affirmed his belief in the value of education and community. When he returned to Fresno from his military service, he began a career in education. The first of many positions Mr. Trotter held in education was at Franklin Elementary School as a fifth grade teacher. He moved on to teach at Edison High School, where he later became the Vice Principal and the first African American principal of the school. Mr. Trotter had a successful career in the Fresno school system, including serving as Principal at Tioga Middle School and Cooper Middle School. For a brief time he served as the first African American interim superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District and then served as the Superintendent at New Millennium Charter Schools.

Mr. Trotter was also a firm believer in community service. He sat on many boards and worked with many organizations, including the African American Historical and Cultural Museum Board of Directors, the Association of California School Administrators, Cedar Vista Hospital Advisory Board, Channel 24 Portrait of Success Board member, National Alliance of Black School Educators, State Center Community College Foundation and Washington Union School Board. For his service to these organizations Mr. Trotter has received many accolades.

Mr. Trotter and his wife met while working at the Fresno County Department of Social Services. They were married in 1972 and raised four children, including two adopted daughters. Mr. Trotter passed away on March 18, 2009. He was a strong advocate and will be remembered as an inspirational role model for the people of Fresno and the residents of Southwest Fresno.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dolphas Trotter and recognize him upon being awarded the ``Community Health Champions Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and wishing the best for his family.