[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 167 (Thursday, November 21, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1738-E1739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF JOE F. ALVERNAZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 21, 2013

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Joe F. Alvernaz. His character exemplified that of a role model and 
true community leader--he placed others ahead of himself, made family 
his first priority, and possessed a strong work ethic.
  Joe began his life of service at an early age. After the bombing of 
Pearl Harbor in 1941, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and 
it was there that he received the nickname ``Sweet Potato Joe'' from 
his fellow marine and close friend, actor Brian Keith. It was while Joe 
was in boot camp, that he would come to marry the love of his life: 
Florence Cardoza of Merced in 1942. As the war went on, he served our 
country proudly during a period of history that seemed as if it would 
never pass; a period that forever changed our nation and the world.
  After the war ended, Joe became as busy as ever. He came back to 
California to once again farm sweet potatoes. He later served as 
President of the California Sweet Potato Council, and U.S. Sweet Potato 
Council, where he was a Director for over 20 years. To say that Joe was 
busy is an understatement; he also served as President of the Merced 
County Farm Bureau and was on the Board of Directors of the Nisei 
Farmers League.
  Joe's involvement in the community could not be described in one word 
or even in one sentence. From 1946 to 1996, ``Sweet Potato Joe'' 
announced all the Livingston High School football games, parades, and 
even radio programs. This is where Joe earned another name for himself: 
``The Voice of Livingston.'' However, his talents did not end there; 
Joe's acting skills also benefited the Livingston Little Theater group, 
where he starred in several productions, most notably as Elwood P. Dowd 
in ``Harvey.'' Adding to his list of accomplishments, Joe also 
organized the first kid's hardball team in Merced County in the early 
50's. Joe was particularly drawn to baseball, and served as coach, 
sponsor, announcer, and booster for over fifty years. Later, he would 
become the third Area Commissioner of Baseball. From this, he achieved 
perhaps his greatest accomplishment; having a local baseball field be 
renamed the ``Joe F. Alvernaz Baseball Field.''
  Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Mabel Alvernaz, brothers, 
Arthur and John Alvernaz, and sister, Mary Geyer. He was also 
predeceased by his oldest son, Joey Alvernaz, in 1980 and by his wife 
of 64 years, Florence, in 2007. Although Joe has passed on from this 
life, Heaven is a little bit brighter today because he has joined 
Florence, the true love of his life. He is survived by 5 children, 17 
grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues to pay 
tribute to the life of a truly amazing father, coach, neighbor, and 
everyone's friend, Joe F. Alvernaz. His service to his country, 
community, and to his family will be painfully missed, yet celebrated, 
honored and never forgotten.

[[Page E1739]]



                          ____________________