[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE OF JESS STONESTREET JACKSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2011

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise with both pride and 
sadness today with my colleague, Lynn Woolsey, to honor one of Sonoma 
County's pioneering leaders. Jess Stonestreet Jackson passed away April 
12, 2011, at his home in Geyserville, California. From the wine 
industry to local philanthropy, Jess Jackson touched lives across the 
North Bay, and he was admired and respected for his devotion to our 
region.
  Born on February 18, 1930, and raised in San Francisco, Jess Jackson 
worked numerous jobs as a child to support his parents. As a young 
adult, he worked as a long shoreman and police officer to put himself 
through the University of California, Berkeley. He embodied the 
American ideal that a dedicated and hardworking person can build a 
successful life.
  With a unique drive and an entrepreneurial spirit, Jess Jackson 
established himself as a leader in the American wine industry. With a 
successful law career in San Francisco, he began growing grapes in the 
1970s. He produced his first wine in the 1980s at the age of 52, 
quickly putting Sonoma County on the map as one of the premier wine-
growing regions of the world. Jackson's work redefined the use of 
``California'' as an appellation of quality for Chardonnay. His family 
company, Jackson Family Wines, now operates over 30 wineries around the 
globe.
  Jackson was also known for devoting much of his energy, intellect and 
financial resources to help others. He donated millions of dollars to 
charities locally and across the country. In Sonoma County, for 
example, he supported the Family Justice Center, the Redwood Empire 
Food Bank, and the Boys and Girls Clubs. He and his wife, Barbara R. 
Banke, spearheaded a wine auction, Sonoma Paradiso, raising millions of 
dollars for a host of local causes for the benefit of children.
  Jackson and Banke also embarked on a pioneering venture to promote 
the study and practice of sustainable viticulture. Their multimillion-
dollar commitment to the University of California, Davis, which will 
fund the construction of a wine center geared toward education, 
testifies to the forward-thinking approach Jackson always took to 
business and agriculture in the Wine Country. It will create an 
opportunity for future generations to practice sustainable viticulture.
  In addition to his wife, Jackson is survived by his five children and 
their families who will continue his legacy in the North Bay.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring the life of Jess 
Stonestreet Jackson. His fine wines earned him friends worldwide. His 
entrepreneurial leadership and compassionate heart earned admirers 
throughout the North Bay. He has enriched our lives, and he will be 
dearly missed.

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