[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 9, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E394-E395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF MIKE PEREZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2013

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Mike Perez, who passed away on March 24, 2013, at the age of 91. Family 
was Mike's highest priority, but he was also a successful businessman 
and community leader. His legacy will live on through his many 
contributions to Central California.
  Born in California's agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley to Juan 
and Maria Perez, Mike had a deep appreciation and understanding of the 
importance agriculture carries in our Valley. Mike grew up in a large 
family with two sisters Amelia and Tabor, and three brothers Daniel, 
Tom, and Earl. Together, the family established and ran a successful 
business which served as a reminder that the American Dream can be 
achieved through hard work and family bonds.
  In 1941, Mike's father founded J.M. Perez and Sons, a visionary 
family-run farming operation in Stanislaus County, California. Eight 
years later, Juan turned the family business over to his sons and it 
was renamed Perez Brothers. After the brothers took over, the farming 
operation expanded from Stanislaus County to Firebaugh, California. 
Mike was instrumental in the growth of the business, and was 
responsible for diversifying and growing new crops. In 2003, Mike and 
his brothers were recognized for their contributions to the agriculture 
community when they were inducted into the Stanislaus County 
Agriculture Hall of Fame. Today, the farm is run by the third 
generation of the Perez family and it continues to thrive.
  Beyond Mike's work at Perez Brothers, he was also very active in the 
community. He served as President and Director of the Broadview Water 
District. In addition, Mike

[[Page E395]]

served as director for other organizations, including: Broadview Co-op 
Gin, Cal-Cot Ltd., Land Preservation Association, San Luis and Delta-
Mendota Water Association, Silver Creek Drainage Association, and 
Valley Seed Growers. Mike has also held office at Cal-West Seeds.
  His work and community service were essential aspects of Mike's life; 
however, family was most important to him. Words cannot adequately 
describe how much he loved his wife, Ann; his children, Michael, and 
Marvin, and his beloved grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to pay tribute to the life of Mike Perez. He 
will be remembered as a man who never took anything for granted and had 
a full appreciation and love for life.

                          ____________________