[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF JOHN DAVID DUKE LANE, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I 
rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding citizen and valued peach 
farmer of Middle Georgia, Mr. John David Duke Lane, Sr., who sadly 
passed away on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at the age of 87.
  Although he was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mr. Lane had long 
since planted his roots firmly into Georgia soil. Following his 
graduation from Gordon Military College in Barnesville, Georgia, Mr. 
Lane studied at the University of Georgia, where he became a member of 
the Chi Phi fraternity. He married the former Caroline Martin, and the 
young couple decided to return to Middle Georgia and help Mr. Lane's 
grandfather, John David Duke, run the family business at Diamond D 
Farm, which Mr. Duke founded in 1908.
  Mr. Lane, or ``Big Duke'' as he was known, took the reins and the 
farm thrived under his leadership for many years. Mr. Lane, alongside 
his father, Dave Lane, founded Lane Packing Company, which is now a 
state-of-the-art facility and one of the most modern and efficient 
packinghouses in the industry. It has the capacity to pack and ship up 
to one million 25-pound cartons of peaches per season.
  Mr. Lane was an innovator and made a name for himself in the 
agricultural community of Middle Georgia, so much so that the Georgia 
Peach Council bestowed upon him the title of ``Mr. Peach'' in 2002. He 
was one of the first people in Georgia to see the potential of 
agricultural tourism. The packinghouse has covered walkways where 
visitors can stroll and watch as peaches are being packed. It also has 
a restaurant and a large gift shop, which draws more than 200,000 
visitors a year. His children and grandchildren continue to operate the 
packinghouse and the farm, now known as Lane Southern Orchards, one of 
the largest peach-growing operations in Georgia.
  An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Lane enjoyed hunting and fishing and spent 
44 years salt water fishing in Homosassa, Florida. In addition, he was 
fascinated by Indian artifacts and maintained an impressive collection 
of authentic arrowheads. But his greatest joy was roaming the farm, 
overseeing the growth and harvesting of the crops.
  George Washington Carver once said, ``No individual has any right to 
come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind distinct 
and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' Mr. Lane has 
done just that, leaving behind a great legacy of leadership in the 
peach-growing community of Middle Georgia. His great contributions to 
our state's reputation as the ``Peach State'' will live on as long as 
Americans and people from all over the world enjoy our delicious and 
succulent Georgia peaches.
  Mr. Lane is preceded in death by his daughter, Anne Lane Tribble, and 
brother, David Lane. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Rose 
Garrett Lane; his sons; Duke, Jr., Bobby, and Stevie Lane; 
stepchildren, Coleman and Lauren; and his beloved grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife Vivian, and the 
Middle Georgia community in honoring the great John David Duke Lane, 
Sr. His leadership, wisdom, and keen business savvy helped make Middle 
Georgia's peach-growing industry the success that it is today. Mr. Lane 
was a remarkable man and a blessing to the state of Georgia and the 
nation as a whole. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, 
friends and loved ones during this difficult time and we pray that they 
will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit 
in the days, weeks and months ahead.

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