[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E826-E827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF LINDA PADILLA MACEDO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2010

  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise 
today to honor the late Linda Padilla Macedo. Linda passed away 
peacefully on April 21, 2010. She is survived by her husband, Dan 
Macedo; her daughters Rebecca and Stephanie; her parents Joseph and 
Joanna Padilla; her sister Theresa Soares and brother-in-law Steven 
Soares; her brother-in-law Don Leatherman; her sister-in-law Nanette 
Barce-Padilla; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Pamela and Tom 
Friedman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
  Linda and her husband Dan were partners in the family dairy business, 
which had been in operation for 65 years until 2007, when Dan and Linda 
retired to Sonora. She earned her bachelor of arts and masters degrees 
from Fresno State University. Linda was a founding member and held many 
offices including president of the Merced Chapter of California Women 
for Agriculture and went on to become State president of CWA. She 
served as chairman of the USDA Farm Services Agency State Committee and 
the Ag Awareness and Literacy Foundation. She also served on the Merced 
County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, National Dairy Promotion & 
Research Board, Merced County Agricultural Preservation Strategy 
Committee, California Department of Conservation Council for the 
Preservation of Habitat and Natural Resources, County UC Merced 
Planning and Advisory Committee, American Agri Women and the Common 
Threads Committee. Linda donated her knowledge, talents and time in 
support of her daughters as they grew up, serving as a member of the 
Our Lady of Mercy Boosters Club and project leader for Lancers 4-H.
  The volunteer activity closest to her heart was the founding of the 
Merced County Farmlands and Open Space Trust and the Central Valley 
Farmland Trust, which she served as the president and on the board of 
directors. Linda served her community selflessly and through her time 
and commitment helped to educate the community about the importance

[[Page E827]]

of agriculture and the protection of our farmland.
  Madam Speaker, the recognition that I am offering today before the 
House of Representatives for Linda Padilla Maced is small compared to 
the contributions and impact she had on the lives of so many. She was 
truly an invaluable member of our community, an exemplary advocate for 
agriculture, and an outstanding human being.

                          ____________________