[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 100 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H5033-H5034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTIONS OF PAUL ECKE, JR., TO POINSETTIA INDUSTRY

  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 471) to recognize the significant contributions of 
Paul Ecke, Jr., to the poinsettia industry, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 471

       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes Paul Ecke, Jr.'s legendary energy, 
     generosity, integrity, optimism, determination, and love of 
     people which have enabled him to develop the poinsettia 
     industry as well as to touch and improve the lives of 
     children and adults all over the world through his 
     extraordinary contributions; and
       (2) extends its condolences to the Ecke Family and to the 
     floral industry on the death of Paul Ecke, Jr., who was a 
     philanthropist, and advocate for education, and a warm, 
     loving, and brilliant human being.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Putnam) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 471.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider H. Res. 471, 
important legislation introduced by our distinguished and decorated 
colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).
  This resolution recognizes the significant contributions of Paul 
Ecke, Jr., to the horticultural industry and in particular the 
poinsettia industry.
  The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the United 
States Ambassador to Mexico from 1825 to 1829. Ambassador Poinsett, who 
collected the flower while serving as Ambassador and sent them to his 
greenhouse in South Carolina, brought the first poinsettia to the 
United States.
  Since then, the poinsettia has grown to become synonymous with the 
Christmas holiday season. For more than 150 years, December 12 has been 
traditionally recognized as National Poinsettia Day. That date marks 
the death of Ambassador Poinsett.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Paul Ecke, Jr., revolutionized the way poinsettias are 
bred, produced and sold in the United States, making it the best 
selling potted flowering plant in the United States and the world.
  The poinsettia, which is native to Central America, flourished in 
Southern Mexico, where the Aztec Indians used it decoratively, for 
medicine, and for dye for textiles. The poinsettia was first brought to 
the U.S. by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico from 
1825 to 1829.
  Ecke Ranch, established by Paul Ecke, Sr., and subsequently owned and 
developed by Paul Ecke, Jr., created a worldwide poinsettia market. In 
2001, poinsettias contributed $250 million in sales at the wholesale 
level to the United States economy, and many times that amount to the 
economies of countries around the world.

                              {time}  1800

  This resolution recognizes Paul Ecke, Jr.'s integrity and 
determination and love of people which have enabled him to develop the 
poinsettia industry and extends condolences to his family on his death.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the

[[Page H5034]]

gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), the distinguished and 
decorated top gun in the House; it is a pleasure to be his wing man.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, Paul Ecke, Jr., was not a Congressman, he was not a 
Senator, but most of the Members in this House, and the other body as 
well, have benefited not only from Paul Ecke, Jr., but his entire 
family.
  I rise in tribute to Paul Ecke, Jr., who passed away at the age of 
76. I do so for my San Diego colleagues who are on a plane unable to 
make it here tonight, and also former member Ron Packard.
  I rise today to pay tribute to the life and accomplishments of my 
friend, Paul Ecke, Jr., and also my constituent. Paul was a devoted 
husband and father, a leader in the San Diego community, and a force in 
the poinsettia industry. While his leadership and the business made him 
an international figure, it was his warm heart and caring personality 
that made him a community leader and friend. The entire Ecke family has 
dedicated themselves to children, education, and the betterment of San 
Diegoans.
  Since I came to Congress, Paul and I have worked together on issues 
important to our community of San Diego and to the flower industry 
worldwide. Paul's boundless leadership and generosity was evident in 
his support of local charities. The Magdalena Ecke YMCA, which was 
named after his mother; the San Diego Museum of Natural History, which 
he dedicated personal time in the overseeing of; the California State 
University at San Marcos, and the Del Mar Fair Grounds. In addition, 
Paul's industry has given America the world's poinsettia for holidays. 
Eighty percent of the world's poinsettias are licensed to the Ecke 
ranch, not a small accomplishment.
  I will never forget the first time I met Paul. He came to meet me in 
my home when I was a candidate for United States Congress. He walked in 
my living room, he picked up a basket of silk flowers from my coffee 
table and immediately threw them in the garbage. He told me that he 
would replace it with something better, and later that day, he sent me 
an arrangement of real flowers. Paul was a man who noticed every detail 
and never hesitated to tell you what he was thinking, and who always 
followed through with his promises.
  Paul's life exemplified commitment and service to his community, and 
he leaves behind a legacy for his family, his friends, and fellow 
Americans to follow.
  Together with poinsettias, Paul Ecke leaves a legacy of philanthropy. 
His generosity extended not only just to the YMCA, but his father had 
the Paul Ecke Elementary School named after him, so we can see the 
entire family has been involved in education.
  Paul Ecke, Sr., who died in 1991, developed the first poinsettia 
cultivar from a wildflower native to Mexico so that it could be 
successfully grown in an indoor potted plant. Over the years, the 
family marketed the plant so it could become synonymous with the 
Christmas holidays. Today, the family employs 300 people in Encinitas 
and 1,000 in Mexico.
  As a member of the YMCA Board of Directors for many years, Ecke, 
Jr.'s signature fund raiser was a holiday poinsettia ball and annual 
benefit that would raise $75,000 minimum a year for scholarships for 
children of low-income families to use at the YMCA. From 1992 to 2000, 
Ecke, Jr. was a member of the Del Mar Board. During his tenure, the 
fair flower show expanded to a nationally recognized event. Paul Ecke, 
Jr.'s son, Paul Ecke, III, now runs the business and told me the motto 
of the Ecke family house was ``We never give up.'' Paul Ecke, III said 
that he showed us by example that you do not lie, you do not cheat, and 
you do not steal, and that you are fair.
  Paul Ecke, Jr., joined the Navy and served in the Pacific aboard USS 
Knapp. He was called back to duty in 1951 to serve as an ensign aboard 
the USS Perkins in the China Sea during the Korean War. Even then, his 
green thumb was irrepressible. Paul Ecke, Jr. told me a story about his 
father, that the guns had shook the ship so much that the Captain's 
flowerpots had jiggled all the dirt out. Paul Ecke, Jr. got the captain 
to go to the North Korean shore and gather more earth so that the 
flowers could grow on the USS Perkins. He was a horticulturist.
  Paul Ecke, Jr. earned a degree in horticulture from Ohio State 
University in 1949. From there, Ecke, Jr. pioneered the use of 
greenhouses to grow his flowers. He was responsible for the 
construction of the Floral Trade Center in Carlsbad. If any of the 
Members have ever attended the flower gathering once a year held over 
in the Cannon Building, it was Paul Ecke, Jr. who organized the entire 
event and gave flowers out to every Member of Congress and lady that 
wanted them, and most of the men as well, for their ladies.
  Yes, Paul was a giant man. He was not a Congressman. He was not a 
Senator. We will miss him.
  Mr. Ecke is survived by his wife, Maureen; daughter, Sara Ecke May of 
Greensboro, North Carolina; daughter Lizbeth Ecke; son of Paul Ecke, 
III, and 7 grandchildren. May God bless Paul Ecke, Jr.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In addition to the other fine things that have been said about Paul 
Ecke, Jr., he also led the horticulture industry's successful effort to 
include for the first time significant research funding for floral and 
nursery crops in the research budget of the United States Department of 
Agriculture. We extend our condolences to the Ecke family and to the 
floral industry on the death of Paul Ecke, Jr., who was a 
philanthropist, an advocate for education, and a warm and loving human 
being.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in their 
tribute to Paul Ecke, Jr. and the Ecke family for their contributions 
to the floral and horticulture industries in this country and 
particularly for their devotion to the cultivation and improvement of 
the poinsettia plant.
  This is a case where the impact one family has had on an industry 
cannot go unmentioned, and the unfortunate passing of Paul Ecke, Jr., 
gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to him and to his father.
  Their ingenuity and hard work have made poinsettias a holiday 
tradition and the largest selling potted plant in this country. It is 
also an amazing feat when one thinks that over 80 percent of all 
poinsettia plants grown in the world can trace their origin to the Ecke 
Ranch.
  Paul Ecke, Jr., was a tireless worker on behalf of the entire 
floriculture industry and his efforts will truly be missed. I send my 
condolences to his family and to his industry.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 471.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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