[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 135 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2062-E2063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATIONS TO FRANZ FRUEHWIRTH ON HIS INDUCTION TO THE 
                       FLORICULTURE HALL OF FAME

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 7, 1999

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, my district in San Diego is home to some 
of our nation's largest flower growers. This industry plays a key role 
in the economy of San Diego County, the state of California, and the 
entire country. Flower growers, wholesalers, and retail shops produce a 
product that makes all of our lives more beautiful.
  Last week, the Society of American Florists recognized the 
achievements of two outstanding individuals in the floral industry. I 
want to personally commend one of those individuals, who also happens 
to be my constituent. The Society of American Florists gave out its 
highest award--induction into the Floriculture Hall of Fame--to Franz 
Fruehwirth, a scientist, inventor and breeder for the Paul Ecke Ranch, 
in Encinitas, California.
  We should thank Franz every time a poinsettia--the number one 
flowering potted plant in the United States--is bought, sold and 
enjoyed. As one of the premier poinsettia breeders in the world, Franz 
has created many ``firsts,'' including Lilo, the first long-lasting, 
dark leaf poinsettia that set the standard for all future varieties. He 
also created the first yellow poinsettia, ``Lemon Drop.'' He bred the

[[Page E2063]]

classic Freedom poinsettia, which now represents more than 60 percent 
of the poinsettia production in the United States.
  Franz is more than a plant breeder. He is also responsible for 
developing the first hanging basket container and the first self-
watering container. He also premiered a technique to produce the 
poinsettia in a tree form. He has shown his dedication to the floral 
industry as a 31-year member of the Ohio Florists' Association and the 
San Diego County Flower Growers Association.
  In his acceptance speech, Franz simply said that he had been 
privileged to spend his life doing what he really considers to be fun: 
playing with his plants and seeing what new and exciting varieties he 
can develop. What a great lesson for all of us: here is a man who, by 
loving his work and devoting his life to that love, has given a great 
gift to us all.
  Few of us can remember a time when Christmas celebrations did not 
include the poinsettia, but we would not have poinsettias at Christmas 
time without Franz Freuhwirth. The floral industry, my good friend Paul 
Ecke, of the Paul Ecke Ranch, and all of us in America are fortunate to 
have Franz Fruehwirth, who has changed American floriculture forever. 
And I am very proud to have him as my constituent.
  I have attached an article from the San Diego Union Tribune that 
further highlights Mr. Fruehwirth's career.

Poinsettia Breeder Recognized With a Slot in Horticultural Hall of Fame

                             (By Dan Kraft)

       Ecke, now that's a name synonymous with poinsettias.
       Franz Fruehwirth's name may not be as well-known, but he, 
     too, has been instrumental in the proliferation of the 
     popular plants.
       Fruehwirth's contributions to the floral industry were 
     recognized in Tucson last week, when he was inducted into the 
     Society of American Florists' Floriculture Hall of Fame at 
     the group's annual convention.
       Fruehwirth, 66, is the chief breeder, or hybridizer, at the 
     Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, which claims to be the world's 
     largest producer and breeder of poinsettias. For the latter 
     half of that claim, they have Fruehwirth to thank.
       Although Ecke sells about 500,000 poinsettias grown in its 
     own greenhouses each Christmas season, its genetic work has 
     been licensed to growers around the globe and accounts for 
     about 80 percent of poinsettias sold in the world. That 
     genetic work is largely Fruehwirth's.
       ``Until he started breeding, almost all the poinsettias in 
     the world had been mutations,'' said Marc Cathey, president 
     emeritus of the American Horticultural Society and one of 
     those who wrote letters recommending Fruehwirth for 
     induction. ``He is unique because he has no scientific 
     training to do what he does, yet he has beat all the big boys 
     in the world.''
       Fruehwirth, a native of Hungary, immigrated to the United 
     States from Germany in 1960 with his wife, Lilo, and their 
     daughter Monika. He was 27 at the time and did not speak 
     English. He worked at a tailor's shop in Oceanside when Paul 
     Ecke Jr., a customer at the shop, hired Lilo as a housekeeper 
     and nanny and offered Fruehwirth a job caring for his plants. 
     That was in 1962, at a time when the ranch was converting 
     from field-grown plants to greenhouses.
       ``Very quickly it became obvious that he was intelligent 
     and creative, and Dad and Grandpa began promoting him,'' said 
     Paul Ecke III. ``He was instrumental in figuring out how to 
     grow the poinsettias inside.''
       In 1968, Fruehwirth introduced the first new poinsettia 
     genetics created at the Ecke Ranch. In 1991, a new variety he 
     bred, called Freedom, was introduced. Today, it accounts for 
     60 percent of the poinsettias sold in the United States and 
     Canada.
       ``I feel there are a lot of people who deserve recognition 
     like this, and I'm very fortunate that I have the honor,'' 
     Fruehwirth said. ``I love my work and am humbled to get (the 
     Hall of Fame induction).''
       According to the Society of American Florists, induction 
     into its Hall of Fame is reserved for those who have made a 
     unique contribution to the industry and changed the way it 
     does business.
       ``Most of those honored have a Ph.D. or are owners of major 
     floral companies,'' Cathey said. ``It's very rare for someone 
     like Franz to receive this award.''
       During his 37-year tenure with the Eckes, Fruehwirth's 
     ``cultivars'' have become increasingly dark in color and 
     hearty, which enables florists to ship the plants greater 
     distances and gives them a longer shelf life.
       Fruehwirth, who lives in Encinitas with his wife, has no 
     plans to retire. He is still hard at work evaluating the 
     potential of 6,000 to 10,000 seedlings each year.
       ``As long as I have a positive influence, I'll keep 
     working'', he said in Tucson last week. ``I still can't 
     believe (the honor).''

     

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