[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 144 (Tuesday, November 13, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROSEMARY BOURNS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KEN CALVERT-

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2012

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
Rosemary Bourns, who passed away on Wednesday, September 26, 2012. 
Rosemary was a pillar of the community in Riverside, California and she 
will be deeply missed.
  In 1947, Rosemary and her newlywed husband Marlan moved to California 
from Michigan, and they began their electronics components 
manufacturing company in humble settings--the garage of their new home 
in Pasadena. While Marlan took care of the engineering side of the 
business, Rosemary oversaw the books and made sure that their house 
could accommodate the seven engineers working with her husband. The 
couple eventually moved the company, now renamed Bourns, Inc., to 
Riverside in 1950 to boost manufacturing operations in order to keep up 
with rising demand.
  In her free time, Rosemary loved telling stories and arranging 
flowers. She and her husband always accomplished things as a team, from 
starting their business to moving it to Riverside. They also selflessly 
gave back to their community. In 1992, the Bourns family gave the 
University of California, Riverside (UCR) the single-largest donation 
it had received to that date, a $6 million gift for its new College of 
Engineering, eventually named Bourns College in the family's honor. In 
the years that followed, they continued to support the College, and the 
west engineering building was named Bourns Hall.
  The way in which Rosemary lived her life should serve as reminder to 
others that an individual with drive, perseverance and a stellar work 
ethic can do great things. In 2000, Rosemary and her husband were 
recognized as UCR Laureates, and in 2010 the family was honored by the 
Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship with its Lifetime Award. 
University of California, Riverside Chancellor Timothy P. White said of 
Rosemary, ``On the UCR campus, Rosemary Bourns' name has been 
synonymous with the accomplishments of strong, hardworking women . . . 
She will always be honored through the accomplishments of the faculty 
and students in the Bourns College of Engineering.''
  In addition to her husband, Rosemary is survived by her son Gordon; 
daughters Linda Hill, Anita Macbeth and Denise Moyles; 14 grandchildren 
and three great-grandchildren.
  Rosemary will always be remembered for her incredible contributions 
to business, her work ethic, generosity, and love of family. Her 
dedication to her work, family and community is a testament to a life 
lived well and a legacy that will continue. I extend my condolences to 
Rosemary's family and friends; although Rosemary may be gone, the light 
and goodness she brought to the world remain and will never be 
forgotten.

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