[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 144 (Thursday, November 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO HARLEY KNOX

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                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2005

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a man 
who will long be remembered for his innumerable contributions and the 
tremendous leadership he displayed in the Inland Empire region of 
Southern California. Harley Knox was an entrepreneur, farmer, 
developer, and all-around community leader. Personally, he was a loyal 
and dear friend. Last week, Harley lost a five-month battle with bone 
cancer and our region collectively mourns his passing, while 
remembering his lifelong contributions to the Inland Empire.
  Harley discovered his entrepreneurial spirit at the early age of 
twelve, when after WWII, demand from farmers and gardeners prompted a 
need for fertilizer. For a fee, Harley would clean chicken coups and 
then sell the fertilizer to large farms and gardeners. His modest, yet 
successful business soon became more than he could handle alone, so he 
employed neighborhood kids to help him out.
  Later on, Harley capitalized on the increased popularity of Dichondra 
lawns in front of ranch-style homes and soon began harvesting his 
family's front yard and selling flats of Dichondra. The popularity of 
the grass continued, so Harley persuaded neighbors to let him buy 
portions of their lawns for resale. By the age of 20, he was selling 
Dichondra across Southern California and the family was buying land for 
farming the grass. A second business was born when he then began 
developing farming equipment to collect and process Dichondra seed.
  By the 1950s, Harley was president of Knox Seed Company, Inc. and 
moved operations to farmland adjacent to what is now March Air Reserve 
Base. The company expanded into producing seed for grain crops, turf 
grass and sod. After eventually selling the seed business, Harley 
focused on developing farming tools and was president of Knox 
Manufacturing Co. of Moreno Valley from 1977 to 1986. The firm 
developed high-speed produce harvesters and held patents that soon 
became the industry standard.
  In 1983 he founded the land development and consulting firm Harley 
Knox & Associates, which still develops industrial projects, assists 
with land-use regulation and attaining government entitlements. More 
recently, Harley was a partner in March Global Port, an industrial 
development on 400 acres on the south side of March Air Reserve Base. 
The project lists Philips Electronics and DHL as tenants and provided 
the region with a significant economic contribution in the wake of the 
downsizing of the military base.
  In addition to his entrepreneurial efforts, Harley served as an 
active member of numerous community organizations, such as the Inland 
Empire Economic Partnership, The Valley Group, the Riverside County 
Building Industry Association, the Western Riverside County Council of 
Governments, the Riverside Community College Foundation, and the 
Riverside Community Hospital Foundation. Following an appointment by 
former Gov. Pete Wilson, Harley served as commissioner of the 
California Boating and Waterways Commission.
  The Inland Empire is a better place to live today because of Harley's 
extraordinary contributions and his selfless dedication to his 
community. On behalf of the Inland Empire I want to convey our 
appreciation for all of Harley's efforts and express our heartfelt 
condolences to the Knox family, including his wife Donna, daughter 
Victoria and sons Bryan and Aaron, as well as his four grandchildren.

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