[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E785-E786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MR. GENE A. LUNDQUIST

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2005

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and wish well in 
retirement Mr. Gene A. Lundquist, of Bakersfield, California. Gene has 
greatly served his community through the various organizations with 
which he has been involved.
  Gene has recently retired from Calcot, Ltd., following 36 years of 
work within this corporation. In his most recent capacity, Gene was the 
Vice President of Calcot's Legislative and Public Affairs department He 
was also a member of Calcot's management committee, and took part in 
Board of Directors' activities.
  His career with Calcot began in 1969 and Gene made an impression on 
all of those who worked with him. He became well known by growers 
throughout California and Arizona, he represented Calcot at various 
functions, and he directed the grower relations program. Gene was 
always the liaison on which people could count. He guided the public 
affairs program, and assisted with farm legislation and legislators.
  While growing and expanding in his various duties at Calcot, Gene 
also joined other beneficial organizations. He is the director of the 
Kern County Water Agency, of which he has been a member for over 20 
years. This agency is the second largest contractor of state project 
water, after the Metropolitan Water District in Los Angeles. The 
Agricultural Council of California, the National Cotton Council, and 
the Seed Saving and Pricing Committee of California Cotton Planting 
Seed Distributors are just a few of the other councils and committees 
on which Gene has served.
  Throughout his career Gene has been committed to providing 
information to the public on various important issues. He is, for 
example, currently the President of the Water Association of Kern 
County, a local water education organization.

[[Page E786]]

  Although Gene has become well known and quite comfortable with the 
various agencies in California, he has also expanded his horizons. He 
participated in the California Agricultural Leadership Program and 
traveled to Africa and visited Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, 
and Egypt to observe the culture, economies and governments of those 
nations.
  His many experiences both here and abroad have combined to make Gene 
the all around great guy that he is. His family, wife Susan and son 
Nels, have graciously shared Gene with the community for many years. 
While I am sure that Gene will not completely retire from public 
service, I am sure he will be spending more time with his loved ones.
  For us, his retirement is bittersweet--although it is well deserved 
his efforts will be greatly missed. I congratulate Gene Lundquist, and 
wish his family all the best.

                          ____________________