[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 43 (Tuesday, April 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        TRIBUTE TO FRED MARTELLA

                                 ______


                         HON. CALVIN M. DOOLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 1994

  Mr. DOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a fellow 
farmer and longtime personal and family friend, Fred Martella of 
Hanford, CA, who is being honored this month by the chamber of commerce 
in my hometown of Hanford as its 1993 Citizen of the Year for his 
lifetime of service to his community.
  Fred is a dairyman, cattle breeder, and an auctioneer of widespread 
renown. His professional skills have gone far to benefit the economy of 
Kings County. But they have also gone far to benefit the community at 
large.
  Fred has always been willing to use his auctioneering skills to help 
local agencies raise funds. Among those organizations that have 
benefitted from his contributions are St. Brigid's Catholic Church, the 
Knights of Columbus, the Sons of Italy, and the Elks Lodge. The youth 
of Kings County have greatly profitted through his fundraising efforts 
for 4-H, Future Farmers of America, the Willow Grove School, and the 
Thomas McCarthy School Parents Club.
  Fred has not shrunk from his obligation to take a stand for his 
community. His auctioneering skills were put to use to raise over 
$60,000 in a successful battle by the people of Hanford to keep a coal-
burning plant from their town.
  This is not the first time in his very distinguished life that his 
community has seen fit to honor Fred Martella. He was awarded a 
lifetime membership from the Dairy Shrine Club; served as 1964 Dairyman 
of the Year; was given the Phi Delta Kappa Certificate of Recognition 
for his service to education, and was the Kings County Old-Time 
Dairyman in 1990.
  Fred's family is also well known in Kings County. The Martella family 
history in the county goes back to 1904, when his Swiss immigrant 
grandfather opened the first cheese factory there.
  And the Martella family goes on. Fred and his wife, Ann, have been 
married 20 years. Fred has raised three daughters, Loretta Montgomery, 
Barbara Caveziel, and Celine Henking; and two stepdaughters, Cheryl 
Stivers and Kathy Sequeira. The Martellas have also been blessed with 
12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
  Fred recently told the Hanford Sentinel that he could not find a 
better place to live than Hanford. ``There's always someone there to 
lend a hand,'' he said.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit that finding someone to lend a hand is much 
easier in a community that has a Fred Martella.
  Please join me, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, in honoring Fred 
Martella.

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