[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 51 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF CAROLYN LEAVENS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 8, 2011

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in memory of Carolyn Leavens, who 
passed away this week after a lifetime dedicated to her family and 
friends, the agricultural industry, and her community.
  I have known Carolyn, her husband Paul and their family for more than 
30 years. Carolyn was a strong and professional woman whose promotion 
of agriculture on a local, national and international level, and whose 
love and service to family and community, were seemingly inexhaustible.
  Carolyn and Paul were married for 60 years, and for 25 years she 
played a key role in office and budget management for Leavens Ranches 
as it grew from 100 acres of beans to 1,100 acres of citrus and avocado 
orchards. The operation, founded by Paul's grandparents and now managed 
by the fourth generation of family members, ranks as one of Ventura 
County's leading citrus and avocado producers and has also expanded 
into lemon, avocado and wine-grape production in Monterey County.
  Carolyn's involvement in one of the county's pioneer family farming 
operations led her to play a leadership role in the agricultural 
community, at first locally and later on a statewide and international 
level.
  Her accomplishments are too extensive to list here in their entirety, 
but they include being the founding president of the Ventura County 
chapter of California Women for Agriculture and CWA's state president 
in 1981; a member of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture 
from 1978 to 1982; a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
Agricultural Women's Leadership Network from 1983 to 1999, 
participating in its European Economic Community Tour as an ambassador 
of the American agricultural industry; and serving as a board member of 
Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance and a delegate to the 
first International Women in Agriculture Convention.
  Although she played a prominent role in agricultural affairs, she was 
perhaps best known at home for her wide-ranging involvement in civic, 
cultural and political activities.
  Again, Carolyn's civic accomplishments--and the awards bestowed on 
her to recognize those accomplishments--are too long to list here. But 
it was her tireless involvement in the decades-long campaign that 
culminated in establishment of California State University, Channel 
Islands, that may be her most lasting local legacy. Not only was she 
integral in establishing the university, her tireless fund-raising and 
marketing efforts ensured its success. In the words of my friend and 
former U.S. Representative Robert Lagomarsino when he presented the 
inaugural CSUCI Lagomarsino Award to Carolyn: ``It is hard to think of 
this campus without thinking of Carolyn Leavens. . . . Today, this 
University is her hallmark.''
  In addition to Paul, Carolyn leaves behind her son and daughter-in-
law, J. Link and Sally Leavens; and daughters and sons-in-law, Tina and 
David Cullenberg, Leslie and Harry Crowe, and Heather and Curt August; 
eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and many other loving 
family members.
  Mr. Speaker, Carolyn left an everlasting mark on our community and 
will be greatly missed. I know my colleagues join me in sending 
condolences to Paul, the Leavens family, and their many friends, and in 
remembering Carolyn for her many contributions and for being a role 
model for all.

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