[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JON RACHFORD

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2009

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and 
congratulate the distinguished public service of Mr. Jon Rachford. Jon 
Rachford was honored as ``Man of the Year'' by the community of 
Corcoran, California at a reception held by the Corcoran Chamber of 
Commerce on January 28, 2009.
  Mr. Jon Rachford was born on July 5, 1939, and grew up in Lindsay, 
where he attended school through his junior year in high school. In 
1956, Mr. Rachford moved to Hanford, California where he graduated from 
high school. Upon graduating from high school Jon received a National 
Reserves Officers Training Corps scholarship to Stanford University. 
Upon graduating from Stanford University with his bachelor of Science 
degree in Civil Engineering he moved on to serve a Regular Commission 
as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Following Basic 
School he received Military Occupational Specialty as an infantry 
officer.
  After six years of service in the Marine Corps, Jon and his wife 
Cathy moved to Corcoran where he was employed by the J.G. Boswell 
Company as a civil engineer. Between the years of 1972 and 1978, Jon 
worked in the Boswell Company in Los Angeles, California as an 
Administrative Assistant to Mr. Jim Fisher and Jim Boswell. During his 
time in Los Angeles he served as a Reserve Police Officer for the City 
of Pasadena, California as a Level 1 Officer. In 1978, Jon moved back 
to Corcoran and continued to work with the Boswell Company's processing 
office.
  In 1984, Mr. Rachford received his final discharge from the Marine 
Corp reserves, retiring as a Major. Soon after that in 1986 Jon started 
a new career and went into business with Bob Lyman and Terrell DeVaney 
as Cal-Econ Consultants and Cal-Econ Realty. He also managed and had 
partnership interests at South Lake Farms and White Ranch.
  In 1992, Jon started his public service when he was elected as a 
Councilman with the Corcoran City Council. While on the Corcoran City 
Council he also served on the board of the Kings Waste and Recycling 
Authority. He also worked with many other local residents to bring a 
second prison to the community of Corcoran. Jon was also involved with 
the Corcoran Rotary Club.
  After eight short years Jon was elected to the Kings County Board of 
Supervisors. Jon also served on a couple of committees such as the 
Kings Waste and Recycling Authority, Tule and Kaweah River Enlargement 
Committee, where there was much success on bringing additional water 
storage to Terminus Dam. Jon is also a member of the board of the 
Corcoran Community Foundation, serves on the Foundation's Executive 
board as Treasurer and volunteers as a member of the finance committee. 
In 2001, Mr. Jon Rachford retired from his public service but still 
continues to stay active in his community.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Jon Rachford 
for his recognition as ``Man of the Year.'' Upon this very much 
deserved award, we thank him for his service and we wish him continued 
success and best of luck for the future.

                          ____________________