[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 58 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING ROY ISOM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2010

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to a 
man whose life and passions exemplified the well honored work ethic and 
spirit of fortitude, fairness, decency and citizenship that has made 
our nation great. Many things have contributed to the agriculture 
industry's prominence in our nation and the world, but one significant 
underlying factor in awareness of California's premier agricultural 
contributions to this great society has been the presence of 
individuals such as Roy Isom. On April 15th, 2010, agriculture and the 
entire Central Valley of California, lost a valuable friend and ally in 
Mr. Roy Isom, a radio icon in Fresno, California, the man colleagues 
called the hardest working person in broadcasting.
  Roy Isom was a fixture in Central Valley California broadcasting for 
more than 40 years. Mr. Isom was known in the Central Valley by many as 
the ``voice of agriculture'' producing daily, an hour-long morning 
agricultural news show, reporting the concerns and activities of 
farming and agribusiness. Roy genuinely understood agriculture and its 
issues, talking regularly with farmers. Roy Isom was dedicated to 
agriculture.
  Mr. Isom was a good hearted and good natured newsman who came to KMJ 
in Fresno in 1981 after a long stint in television news, including KFSN 
ch. 30. He started as farm news editor, but later added the title of 
news director to his resume. Colleagues marveled at his work ethic. He 
would come to work at 1 o'clock in the morning and then ``maybe'' leave 
at 3 in the afternoon, only to come back to work the next day seemingly 
unaffected by it. Though he arrived to work so early, he'd refuse to be 
pulled off a story until that story was told--and told well.
  Roy Isom was known for his fair and balanced reporting. There was no 
one who didn't like or respect Roy. Though passionate about his craft, 
he was never pushy. Former KMJ general manager Al Smith reported, ``He 
was never a gotcha news guy. He was a guy who just wanted to get the 
facts ma'am.'', always done in a respectful way. Roy could masterfully 
paint a mental picture for listeners when on the scene of breaking news 
events.
  Over the course of 45 years, Mr. Isom covered countless major 
breaking stories. Roy covered some of the most important stories our 
Valley has ever seen, most notably the recent dire water crisis facing 
our Central Valley farmers and their communities. His collection of 
media badges and awards speak volumes. He was named the California Farm 
Bureau Agricultural Reporter of the Year in '94. In 2005, Roy received 
the ``Heavy Puller Award'' from the Fresno County Farm Bureau.
  Cancer may have claimed Roy's life at 72, but longtime friend and 
broadcaster Dennis Hart reports Roy went out just the way he'd planned; 
working until the very end. He's one of those rare people that got to 
do just that.
  Roy Isom is survived by his wife of 45 years Pat Isom; son, Richard 
Isom; daughters Jennifer Isom Schmidtke and Catherine Isom; and seven 
grandchildren; all of Fresno. Mr. Isom will be long remembered for his 
love and dedication to his family and to the broadcast industry, and 
for his tireless efforts in doing his job, especially on behalf of 
Valley agriculture. A memorial scholarship in Roy's name has been set 
up with the Ag One Foundation at California State University, Fresno. 
Roy Isom will truly be missed by family, friends and the entire Central 
Valley Region. I will greatly miss Roy. Here's to a truly honorable and 
great man!

                          ____________________