[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 141 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING DARWIN SHEBELUT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2008

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the achievements of 
Darwin Shebelut and to congratulate him upon being honored with the 
``Lifetime Achievement Award'' by the Madera Chamber of Commerce. Mr. 
Shebelut was honored at a reception on Thursday, August 21, 2008, at 
the Fourth Annual Lifetime Achievement Awards and Board of Directors 
Installation Dinner.
  Mr. Shebelut was born on August 8, 1920, in Madera, California. He 
graduated from Madera High School in 1938 as the senior class 
president. After high school he attended Stanford University and 
received a degree in mechanical engineering. He also served in the 
United States Army for 4 years during World War II. Upon returning to 
Madera, Mr. Shebelut became a businessman and an opportunist. His 
father owned and operated a Chevrolet dealership in Madera that he 
eventually took over. Under his leadership the dealership grew to 
include Oldsmobile and Toyota. Mr. Shebelut purchased 182 acres of 
subdivided land in what is now the center of Madera. He formed a water 
company through the public utilities commission and developed the area 
into a residential and commercial area. He built Madera's first 
shopping center in 1954 on that land. During the late 1970s Mr. 
Shebelut purchased 50 more acres of land and rezoned the area to 
include residential, multiple housing and commercial properties. He 
developed another shopping center and was the co-owner of an adjacent 
apartment complex. He also owned and operated the Credit Bureau during 
the 1940s and 1950s. Mr. Shebelut was the president and director of 
American Standard Life Insurance Company, was the director of the 
Northern California Automobile Dealers Association for 20 years and a 
member of the National Automobile Dealers Association.
  Outside of owning and operating numerous businesses, Mr. Shebelut was 
very involved in the community. He served the city of Madera as a 
director of the development agency and in the early 1950s he served as 
a Madera City councilman. In the County of Madera he served as a 
director of the joint development agency, commissioner of the Juvenile 
Justice Commission and was the director for 18 years of the 
Transportation Authority. He served as the director for numerous 
organizations, including Madera Businessmen's Association, Madera 
Industrial Development Corporation and Boy Scouts of America Sequoia 
Council. He has served as trustee for the University of California, San 
Francisco's Fresno Foundation, California-Nevada Methodist Homes and 
Hospitals, San Joaquin River Conservation Trust and the Queen of the 
Valley High School. Mr. Shebelut was one of the founders of Madera 
Community Hospital in 1964 and later served as a trustee and chairman 
of the board. He has also been involved in Madera Noon Rotary for 42 
years (and served as president), Elks Lodge 1918 (charter member), the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Fresno Chapter International 
Wine and Food Society, Fresno Chapter of Skal International, Fresno 
Owls Club and Madera Golf and Country Club (member of organizing 
group).
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Darwin 
Shebelut upon being awarded with the ``Lifetime Achievement Award.'' I 
invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Shebelut many years of 
continued success.

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