[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 76 (Tuesday, June 11, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5360-S5361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN HONOR OF W. RALPH GAMBER, FOUNDER OF DUTCH GOLD HONEY

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, Friday, June 14, is our National 
Flag Day. This year, Flag Day has special meaning for many in 
Lancaster, PA, it will be a day of remembrance for the life and work of 
W. Ralph Gamber. It is particularly appropriate that Ralph's legacy 
will be honored on Flag Day; in many ways, he lived the American dream 
through the kind of patriotism that is grounded in community 
involvement and love of family. The company Ralph founded in 1946, 
Dutch Gold Honey, Inc., will also be honored as part of his legacy and 
those who will gather at the site of his family business in Lancaster 
will dedicate a flagpole in his memory.
  Ralph Gamber began his honey processing business with a $27 
investment in three beehives in the mid-1940s. What was initially a 
hobby of canning honey in the family garage grew to be a vehicle for 
innovation and a model for the success of hard work and family 
cooperation. Today, Dutch Gold Honey is one of the largest independent 
honey packers in the nation and, as an industry symbol of quality and 
partnership, remains family-owned and operated. The plastic honey bears 
seen on the shelves of every grocery store in America are Ralph's 
invention and their success led to the creation of the Gamber

[[Page S5361]]

Container Company. Ralph, his wife Luella, and his three children have 
made an incredible contribution to the Lancaster area through their 
business accomplishments. Ralph served a term as president of the 
National Honey Packers & Dealers and in 1992, was recognized as 
Pennsylvania Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneur Magazine. 
Additionally, the Gambers established the Gamber Foundation, a resource 
to support local charities and nonprofit organizations, honeybee 
research, and scholarships for the children of Dutch Gold Honey 
employees.
  Ralph Gamber's legacy, however, is not limited to his honey-related 
work. His life's worth of community and family focus is what earns him 
particular attention on Flag Day. To Ralph, work was an extension of 
family togetherness and he firmly believed that when families pray 
together, they stay together. Evidently, a family that stays together 
is one that can also share in building a unique, successful business. 
Ralph would count his 66-year marriage, three children, eight 
grandchildren, and nine-great-grandchildren among his greatest 
accomplishments. He was involved with the Salvation Army and helped to 
found his local fire company. He was a veteran of the Second World War 
and, with a strong connection to his church, Ralph acted as Sunday 
school superintendent for many years, was a member of his church 
council, and later chaired the church's stewardship committee. 
Throughout his life and through his livelihood, Ralph has demonstrated 
his commitment to the community and people he cared so much about. I 
share his story today because I believe it is worthy of our admiration 
and it is evidence of how the American Dream continues to inspire us.
  My thoughts will be with the family and friends of Ralph Gamber this 
Flag Day. When our national banner is raised over Dutch Gold Honey, it 
will be a reminder to all who see it that love, perseverance, and 
community are the keys to success in family and in life.

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