[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1781-E1782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATIONS VERA TRINCHERO TORRES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 5, 1999

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
sincere congratulations to a dear friend, Ms. Vera Trinchero Torres, 
who has been named the 1999 Citizen of the Year by the St. Helena 
Chamber of Commerce.
  A co-owner of the famous Sutter Home Winery and mother of two, Vera 
dedicates most of her free time to charitable work for the community of 
the Napa Valley.
  Although a New Yorker by birth, Vera moved to the Napa Valley at age 
ten and has been a resident of the area ever since. As a child, she and 
her older brother, Bob, helped out in the winery after school and on 
weekends. Vera worked on the bottling line and swept up, all the while 
looking after her little brother, Roger.
  After graduating from St. Helena High School, Vera began a 24-year 
career as a legal secretary. In fact, I'm proud to say she was the 
mainstay in the law office of my uncle, former Judge Lowell Palmer. In 
1979, as Sutter Home began its transformation from a small mom-and-pop 
operation to a large, modern winery, Vera took on the responsibility of 
running the office full-time.
  Today, Vera oversees company profit sharing and pension plans for 
Sutter Home's 450 employees and serves as the family-run corporation's 
secretary. She also manages the company's extensive charitable 
activities, which amount to several hundred thousand dollars each year. 
In addition, Vera is an active supporter of numerous local youth 
groups, including the St. Helena Boys and Girls Club.
  In 1996, in recognition of her philanthropic efforts and service to 
the community, Vera was named, by me, Woman of the Year for the 2nd 
District of the California State Senate.
  The St. Helena Citizen of the Year Award is one more honor of many to 
come for this wonderful neighbor, great friend, and tremendous asset to 
our community.
  Once again, I offer my congratulations to Vera and to her family.

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