[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H924-H926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ROSEMARY MUCKLOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the achievements 
of a friend of mine, Rosemary Mucklow. Rosemary is the long-standing 
executive director of the National Meat Association and has been 
somewhat of a legend in the meat and food business. Her dedication to 
the industry is evident by her business achievements, there are so many 
of them.
  Rosemary was born in Scotland and went to work at the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Fisheries for the British Government before being hired 
as a secretary at the Pacific Coast Meat Association, which was later 
named the Western States Meat Association, and then renamed the 
National Meat Association.
  In 1996, Rosemary received the E. Floyd Forbes award from the Meat 
Association for her outstanding service. She was honored again in 2002 
by the American Meat Science Association for her ``commonsense 
leadership.'' She served on the National Advisory Committee on Meat and 
Poultry Inspection and was the vice president of the International 
HACCP Alliance. Throughout her career, she has highlighted the 
importance of information and education of the meat industry to improve 
standards, efficiency, and quality.
  Rosemary will be retiring very soon, but if I know Rosemary, 
retirement for her won't mean just quietly fading into the sunset. She 
is going to be active, probably still in the association, and in the 
industries.
  I had the opportunity to get to know Rosemary about 10 or 12 years 
ago when we, in the House Ag subcommittee of appropriations were 
passing the HACCP law. At that time we were moving from visual carcass-
to-carcass inspection of meat and poultry to microbial testing, taking 
this to the modern technology. Rosemary knew so many people in the 
industry, and there was a lot of controversy, but she was able to get 
the people together to come up with the right compromises and the right 
push at the right time to get the thing from floundering.
  She also was very active at a time when there was some Salmonella and 
E. coli issues that had threatened to close down the industry and push 
through, I think, very aggressive mandatory recall authority for the 
Secretary of Agriculture. Rosemary brokered some ``peace in the 
valley,'' you might say.
  She's got the kind of enthusiasm that can only be called 
``contagious.'' I met her through a man who is a sausage manufacturer 
in San Francisco named Al Piccetti, and the Piccetti family has also 
become friends of mine. And it seems like birds of a feather flock 
together. Rosemary's friends are good people. They have invited Libby 
and me to go visit them out in San Francisco, and we had a very nice 
time dealing with them. All the hospitality I would say that they have 
given us over the years and the friendship, those kind of relationships 
that in this business are rare to find. I will say this, I have no idea 
what Ms. Mucklow's politics are, if she's Democrat or Republican. In 
fact, the last time she was in Washington, she really prefers, for some 
reason, the west coast, but the last time she was here she said, Jack, 
I don't need to see you, I'm going to go see Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro 
because that's where the action is now. And she said that with a 
twinkle and a smile, and then she went up to go see Rosa. But she has 
that kind of good will that she can deal with both sides of the aisle 
and get the argument off politics into what is best for the American 
food consumer. What's best for the industry and the consumer has always 
been her goal.
  I will say I don't even know what kind of activities she does on a 
personal level, but I know this, that whatever she is doing right now, 
she's doing it with a smile and a lot of fun and involving a lot of 
people.
  She's the kind of lobbyist or industry advocate that keeps a good 
reputation for the industry that she represents because she doesn't cut 
corners, she doesn't do political things, she doesn't think in terms of 
backroom deals or power moves or anything like that, she wants to do 
what's fair and what's just for the American people, and has a broad 
picture far beyond her job or her industry or her association.
  We're going to miss her kind of leadership, but I do hope that in her 
retirement she does not become a stranger. With that, I want to say 
thank you, Rosemary Mucklow, for your many years of advocacy for the 
American food consumer and for the industry.

   Rosemary Mucklow, Executive Director, National Meat Association, 
                              Oakland, CA

       Rosemary Mucklow is Director Emeritus of National Meat 
     Association, (formerly Western States Meat Association) an 
     Oakland-based trade association representing packers, 
     processors, wholesalers, sausage makers, and other related 
     firms in the U.S. meat and poultry industry.
       Until 2007 she was the NMA Executive Director and held this 
     position since 1982 when the Western States Meat Packers 
     Association and the Pacific Coast Meat Association merged to 
     form the stronger, broad-based organization it is today. 
     Rosemary has been associated with the meat industry for over 
     40 years.
       As Executive Director, Rosemary's responsibility's included 
     the administration of the affairs of the National Meat 
     Association. She continues to oversee the activities of NMA 
     as Director Emeritus, and as part of her daily activities she 
     maintains working contacts with NMA's members so that she 
     remains fully informed about the effects on their businesses 
     of government and market activities.
       Almost daily, Rosemary advises members on the intricacies 
     of the federal meat and poultry inspection laws, and other 
     laws administered by the Department of Agriculture.

[[Page H925]]

       Rosemary has a reputation for ``telling it like it is.'' 
     She is considered a formidable adversary in defending the 
     industry when it's right, and she'll be equally 
     straightforward in making corrections when it is not. In 1996 
     Rosemary received the E. Floyd Forbes award presented by the 
     National Meat Association in recognition of her outstanding 
     services to the meat industry. In 2002, she was honored by 
     the American Meat Science Association for her ``common sense 
     leadership in the areas of food safety and public policy.'' 
     She was appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Meat 
     and Poultry Inspection and elected Vice President of the 
     International HACCP Alliance. She is an honorary member of 
     the American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians.
       Aside from her responsibilities as Director Emeritus of NMA 
     Rosemary is a member of various research and industry related 
     organizations. She is a Trustee on several Taft-Hartley Funds 
     administering medical and pension benefits for union workers. 
     She has worked to raise funds in the area of cancer research 
     as President of the Peralta Cancer Institute and has reached 
     out to assist disadvantaged people in the community. She is 
     the President of the Berkeley City Club, as well.
       Rosemary was born and educated in Edinburgh, Scotland and 
     had various jobs unrelated to the meat industry before coming 
     to the United States in 1959. She earned her Bachelor of 
     Arts, majoring in Accounting at Golden Gate University, 
     graduating in 1970. She resides in a cottage with a panoramic 
     view of the Golden Gate and surrounded by a woodsy rose 
     garden in Berkeley, California with two feline companions.
                                  ____


         Jolley: Five Minutes With Rosemary Mucklow, Ret., NMA

       Rosemary Mucklow is really going to retire this time, No 
     kidding. Ms. Mucklow, the long-standing Executive Director of 
     the National Meat Association and a legend in the meat 
     business, took a first stab at retirement several years ago. 
     It didn't take. After several fruitless months of searching 
     for her replacement, the National Meat Association's board of 
     directors threw in the towel and asked her to stay on a bit 
     longer.
       Her second retirement announcement, issued just a few weeks 
     ago, included a surprise. The next Executive Director had 
     already been chosen--Barry Carpenter, the recently retired 
     Deputy Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service 
     and one of the few with the gravitas to follow in the deep 
     foot prints left by Ms. Mucklow.
       Note: In writing this, I almost called Carpenter ``her 
     replacement,'' a silly misnomer on my part. To be correct, 
     she will be followed in the office by Mr. Carpenter. No one 
     will ever replace her.
       Retirement for Rosemary does not mean she will immediately 
     take up knitting at some condo in Sun City. She won't even 
     hide out at her home in the Berkeley hills. OK, she might do 
     some more knitting, it's always been a hobby. But those 
     needles are much sharper than the standard issue dime store 
     needles--maybe they're those Addi Turbo 47 inch circular 
     brass knitting needles with finely honed points--and they 
     will still be used with great dexterity to prod an 
     occasionally recalcitrant industry onwards.
       In this interview, I asked her to construct a mini-hall of 
     fame and induct an inaugural class of people she has worked 
     with in her long career. It was an impressive list but short 
     one name. In any meat industry hall of fame, her name will be 
     listed at the top in recognition of the lengthy and positive 
     impact she's had.
       Let's spend five minutes with Rosemary as she prepares to 
     slowly and reluctantly step away.
       It's been said that retirement isn't for sissies and that's 
     something you've never been accused of being. So are you 
     really going to do it this time and what does retirement mean 
     to a hyper-active, over-achiever like you?
       On February 1, 2007, when Barry Carpenter accepts the 
     position of CEO/Executive Director, my status with NMA will 
     change to Director Emeritus. I expect to turn over the ceo 
     responsibilities to Barry, and as we proceed through a 
     transition time, to be able to focus my time and energy on 
     many undone activities for which there has been very 
     limited time. Retirement is a misnomer really, and because 
     Barry will be recused from certain activities with his 
     former employer, I will be an interim bridge for those 
     purposes. I'm certainly not retiring to my cottage in the 
     hills of Berkeley to knit full time!
       In military terms, you seem to be doing a ``phased 
     withdrawal'' from your duties at NMA. What will keep you busy 
     as your time out of the office expands?
       Oh, there are lots of things on the horizon! I'd like to 
     visit and work with individual members more, I'd like to have 
     the time to go through lots of history and big files that 
     have accumulated over the years, and probably to do a little 
     writing about the changes we've already seen, and what might 
     lie ahead.
       How about a short history lesson? How and when did you get 
     started in the trade association business? A little 
     background on ``why,'' too
       I was hired by then Pacific Coast Meat Jobbers Association 
     on February 1, 1961 as the secretary in a two-person office. 
     Our major focus was collective bargaining on behalf of Bay 
     Area meat jobbers and processors. There were a couple of 
     changes in the man that I worked for that year, and we got 
     through labor negotiations, and by early 1962 I had a new 
     boss who was a lawyer and accountant. After the 1964 
     negotiations, he told me I was not good as a secretary, and 
     why did I not go back to school and get educated, so I went 
     to Golden Gate University and after five years received my BA 
     in Accounting in 1970.
       By that time, the boss was back practicing law, and in 
     absentia, so I got to fill the void and apply what I had 
     learned and we were in the years of implementation of the 
     1967 changes to the Federal Meat Inspection Act. We were 
     innovative and energetic, I made friends with the bigger 
     organization, Western States Meat Packers Association, and in 
     1982, under the leadership of Cal Santare of WSMPA, we merged 
     Pacific Coast and WSMPA into Western States Meat Association. 
     In 1996, because of broader interest in what WSMA was doing, 
     we changed the name to National Meat Association. It's been 
     an exciting and bumpy ride!
       You've had the opportunity to meet and work with many of 
     the legends in the business. Let's construct a mini-hall of 
     fame here and induct the inaugural members. Who would they be 
     and why would you include them?
       First the man who hired me: Tom Morton, who went on to be 
     very successful in the investment business. I should have 
     followed him!
       Don Houston, FSIS Administrator, was a good friend, and 
     provided critical access for me to the USDA regulatory 
     process.
       Cal Santare, who believed that a woman could do it, when 
     many of his cohorts didn't think so!
       Al Piccetti, of San Francisco Sausage, a former President 
     of PCMA, who encouraged me to reach for my dreams.
       Ben Goehring, of Goehring Meat, another former President of 
     PCMA and later of WMSA, who inspired me with strength and 
     friendship.
       Kathi Mosie, of Saag's Products, who never failed to be 
     supportive.
       Phil Bauer of Federal Meat, who had to fight for me on 
     principle, and thus earned unpopularity with some associates.
       Cal Faello of King Meat who went to the mat for me as a 
     matter of principle.
       John Duyn of Carlton Farms who helped me to make change 
     from good old boys to the next generation.
       Dick Lyng, whom I knew in California, who showed me by 
     example how to be a better politician
       Phil Olsson of Olsson, Frank & Weeda, friend, lawyer, 
     counselor and absolutely straight arrow for over 30 years.
       In the industry, many of the toughies reached out to be 
     helpful to me, including Bob Peterson, Ken Monfort, and more 
     recently Joe Luter. John Miller is a longtime friend, People 
     like Bill Buckner, Dick Bond (whose first job was for one of 
     the early WSMPA legends, Homer Glover), Rich Vesta, Bernie 
     and Joe Clougherty, Gary Waldman, Terry Caviness, Dave Wood, 
     Les Oesterreich, Warren Wilcox and Harvey Dietrich. In 
     academia, I can never forget Russell Cross, Gary Smith, Jeff 
     Savell, Roger Mandigo, Gary Acuff, and Elsa Murano and lots 
     more. And Lou Gast whom I first knew at FSIS in the early 80s 
     has come through over and over again.
       Indeed, I have been blessed, and while there are many 
     omissions from this group, my strength has come from the 
     generosity and kindness of many, many people in this great 
     industry.
       You've accomplished a lot during your tenure at WSMA/NMA. 
     What achievements stand out the most?
       Running a trade organization is not like playing a football 
     game. There are not winners and losers after a fixed amount 
     of game time!
       Some legal wins, such as the Supreme case on Salmonella 
     Testing at the 5th Circuit Court was a powerful event. Also, 
     the driving energy by NMA to get the U.S. Canadian Border 
     open was a special ``win.''
       But the big win is the strong support of people for the 
     goals of NMA and what it stands for, for the respect shown 
     toward me and this organization for what it does to serve the 
     needs and interests of the industry, and for the appreciation 
     of members, large and small, for what we stand for and the 
     efforts we make.
       Using your many years of experience, let's look ahead. What 
     does the future look like from your vantage point? Can you 
     talk about issues that we can look at with pride as well as 
     the issues that might create some problems?
       I see lots of opportunities that lie ahead! The 21st 
     Century will be a stimulating and exciting time for firms 
     that pay attention to what consumers want to buy, rather than 
     make a commodity product to ship out.
       There is a huge amount of innovation going on as we speak 
     in this great industry. I think we need to provide the next 
     generation with relatively simple information about how to 
     make food taste good and be safe, all at the same time. There 
     are a zillion cookbooks, but in addition to easy meals for 
     consumers on the rush, there is a need to demonstrate that 
     good food is a catalyst for good friends and families to get 
     together. I like it best when I hear that competitors can 
     find common ground with each other in the marketplace.
       No one is going to eat the same item over and over again. 
     Variety, reasonable portion size, and good taste is very 
     important, I think there are big opportunities for developing 
     new niche markets, and trade organizations will be challenged 
     to fairly represent their members interests in the upcoming 
     debates. I think there are opportunities for

[[Page H926]]

     small Individuals to bring forward their idea, and it gives 
     me the greatest pleasure to help small firms that have the 
     dynamic energy to grow their market share with a good idea.
       As Barry Carpenter prepares to pick up the torch, what 
     advice do you have to give him?
       Barry brings strengths to the leadership of this 
     organization that are quite different to mine. He is highly 
     respected for his capacity to understand this industry, and 
     for honesty and integrity. I am thrilled that he will take 
     over, and I will try not to get in his way as he leads with 
     new ideas and creativity and builds on the strengths of NMA 
     as we know it today.
       NMA's member response services have created a new gold 
     standard for the industry, for large and small firms. Our 
     availability to assist and guide firms through the maze of 
     regulatory requirements is legendary. I will continue to 
     support Barry in any way appropriate and possible and am 
     thrilled that the lengthy transition will give us 
     opportunities to work together in a different way to serve 
     the needs and interests of our great meat industry, and 
     liberate me to think about new projects that can be valuable 
     for the future of our organization.

                          ____________________