[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 105 (Tuesday, July 14, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S7478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING JACK EBERSPACHER

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I wish to pay 
tribute to a good friend and great Nebraskan, Jack Eberspacher, who 
passed away on July 5, 2009, at the tender age of 55 after a short but 
courageous battle with cancer. Jack was a very special friend to all 
who knew him, dedicating his professional life to the advancement and 
betterment of the agricultural industry and the agribusiness community.
  A native of Seward, NE, Jack received his bachelor of science degree 
from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. After several years working 
in various agribusiness positions throughout the United States, Jack 
was named the chief executive officer of the National Grain Sorghum 
Producers Association, headquartered in Lubbock, TX. He is credited 
with growing that association by 300 percent and with developing 
balanced association programs on policy, plant science and utilization, 
and for placing the association on the national legislative and 
regulatory scene.
  In 1998, Jack accepted the position of chief executive officer of the 
National Association of Wheat Growers here in Washington, DC. Under his 
leadership, the organization experienced a financial turnaround, with 
Jack leading the group out of a negative budget in net earnings to a 
positive one in just over 2 years.
  Jack was appointed president and chief executive officer of the 
Agricultural Retailers Association in 2001, where he remained until his 
passing. In this capacity, he increased the annual association dues 
revenue by more than 100 percent. In February 2002, he was the only 
commodity leader invited to address the National Governors' Conference, 
where he discussed the importance of the 2002 farm bill and the state 
of the agricultural economy.
  Jack was also a political activist and volunteer; an active member of 
the Bennett Roundtable of the Farm Foundation of Chicago, Illinois; and 
a recipient of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Brother of the Century 
Award.
  I offer my most sincere condolences to Jack's wife Jinger and their 
family. Jack's passion for service, dynamic leadership, and unwavering 
dedication to the greater agribusiness community will remain a source 
of inspiration to all those who knew him.

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