[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 15, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATIONS TO BOB HOULDING, SR.

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                       HON. GEORGE P. RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 15, 1998

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bob 
Houlding, Sr., for being recognized as the 1998 Senior Farmer of the 
Year. Mr. Houlding has been dedicated to providing services to the 
agricultural community of Madera County since the 1920's and is very 
deserving of this honor.
  Mr. Houlding's family connection to Madera goes back to the 1800s. 
Bob Houlding, Sr., is the son of William and Ludema Houlding. William 
Houlding came with his family from Nebraska to Madera in 1891. Bob 
Houlding, Sr.'s brothers are Frank, Bill and Vigil, and he has a 
sister, Ludema (Houlding) Weis.
  Mr. Houlding started school in 1922 at Howard School, the year it was 
built, and graduated from Madera High School in 1934. In 1939, Bob Sr. 
joined the Army Air Corps to serve his country, staying in until 1946. 
He initially signed up for a three-year hitch, but just as his first 
tour was nearing its end, World War II broke out and he continued to 
serve. In the Air Corps (later the Air Force) he worked as an engineer, 
repairing B-24s and B-29s in the 21st Bomb Squadron and serving in 
places such as New Orleans, LA; Riverside, CA; Kansas; and the Aleutian 
Islands.
  In 1942 he married Mildred Sonier. After marrying, the couple raised 
three sons, Bob Jr., Jerry, and Mike. Mr. Houlding continued to farm 
once he returned to Madera, growing cotton, alfalfa, wheat, and 
potatoes. As the years passed, Bob Houlding, Sr., involved his sons in 
the family business and now together they own 3,500 acres in Madera and 
on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. His grandchildren and their 
spouses are also involved in farming. All of the grandchildren are 
graduates, current students, or have aspirations of attending Cal 
Poly--San Luis Obispo.
  Mr. Houlding began by farming row crops, but since 1976, has moved 
into growing tomatoes, cotton, wheat, and almonds on the west side of 
Madera and Fresno counties. Mr. Houlding's action plan for farming has 
always been to diversify the kinds of crops he grows and to use modern 
farming techniques such as micro-sprinklers. Mr. Houlding has been a 
great proponent of reduced pesticide usage through the introduction of 
predator insects and of water conservation through the installation of 
drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.
  Mr. Houlding has always been supportive to his community and of youth 
involvement in agriculture. He was a member of the board of directors 
of the Golden State Gin, a member of the Trade Club, and a charter 
member of the Reel and Gun Club.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I congratulate Bob Houlding, 
Sr., for receiving the Senior Farmer 1998 Award for Madera County. I 
applaud Mr. Houlding's dedicated service to, and leadership of, the 
agricultural community. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. 
Houlding many more years of success.

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