[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 25, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MICHAEL BOZICK TO THE PEOPLE OF THE 
                            COACHELLA VALLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARY BONO MACK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 25, 2012

  Mrs. BONO MACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear 
friend, Mr. Michael Bozick, a highly respected and honorable community 
leader in the district which I have the honor of representing in 
Congress.
  I am deeply grateful for the contributions Mr. Bozick has made to our 
desert community, and on behalf of the people I represent, I extend 
sincere appreciation for all he has done to enhance our local economy 
and improve the lives of area residents. Mike Bozick has made a 
difference because of his passion for serving the community, his 
achievements in industry, and his love of our region. In particular, he 
has helped countless young people through his support of the Coachella 
Valley Boys & Girls Club, along with numerous other worthwhile 
charitable organizations and causes.
  A generous and devoted family man, Mike Bozick's story is the 
embodiment of the American dream. Born to a Yugoslavian immigrant 
family in Masontown, Pennsylvania, he moved to Southern California as a 
young man. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of 
Southern California, Mike began working in the table grape industry in 
the mid-1960s, assisting his family with operations at Richard 
Bagdasarian, Inc., a table grape production company based in 
California's Coachella Valley. It was during this period that Bozick's 
passion for the grape industry grew, and he soon developed into an 
effective and highly regarded leader within the agricultural industry.
  Mike Bozick recently completed his 39th year of service as a 
California Table Grape Commission Board Member, an organization which 
strives to maintain and expand current markets to new and larger 
markets for fresh California grapes, both domestically and 
internationally. As Chairman of the Board, Mike has introduced new and 
innovative ideas, such as promoting table grapes from all of the 
commission districts, a rarity in the past since many districts have 
overlapping markets. His ideas certainly paid off. By 2010, national 
sales of California table grapes grew to a shipment of 98 million boxes 
per year--a substantial increase from 20 million in the 1960s. As 
someone who is deeply committed to the growth of our local economy and 
the creation of jobs in our region, it is very gratifying to see the 
expansion and growing popularity of one of our most prized and valued 
industries, due in large part to Mike's perseverance, passion and 
dedication.
  While Mike has made many contributions to the table grape industry, 
it is his hard work, entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering generosity 
that impresses me most. He is the fulfillment of the all-American 
notion that hard work and dedication pay off, and he has used his 
success to benefit others and provide an example for young people 
everywhere.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending Michael Bozick for his 
exemplary record of service and contributions to the people of the 
Coachella Valley, the California Table Grape Commission, the greater 
table grape industry, and in sending best wishes for continued success 
in his future endeavors.

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