[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 33 (Thursday, February 26, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE PASSING OF HENRY T. SEGERSTROM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2015

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
recognition of the passing last Friday of a truly great Orange County 
farmer and retailer, military veteran and visionary, philanthropist and 
patron of the arts. Henry T. Segerstrom's story epitomizes the pioneer 
spirit that helped to make our country great.
  The son of Swedish immigrants who found their way to Orange County in 
1898, Henry grew up working his family's lima bean fields in Costa 
Mesa, California. He went to Stanford in 1940 but answered his 
country's call in World War Two. Severely wounded in combat in Germany, 
Mr. Segerstrom returned home determined to finish his education 
graduating with an MBA. At age 25, he joined the family business, C.J. 
Segerstrom and Sons, and began making Orange County history.
  The young executive turned the bean fields into real estate gold 
developing commercial property including brand new office towers. Henry 
Segerstrom was now positioned for even greater success. He envisioned 
one of the nation's premier shopping centers along the 405 Freeway in 
Costa Mesa and had the will and the skill to open South Coast Plaza in 
1967. The Plaza attracted the finest retail stores in the world and 
became a shopping destination for customers across the globe.
  Had he stopped there, his place in Orange County history would have 
been assured. Instead, Henry Segerstrom reinvented another tract of his 
holdings in Orange County giving rise in 1986 to the Segerstrom Center 
for the Arts. He served as founding chairman of the new center and 
remained one of its most generous donors. Mr. Segerstrom followed up 
this phenomenal success with the opening of a new Concert Hall in 2006 
once again changing the cultural landscape of the County for 
generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Henry T. Segerstrom my friend. He 
will be sorely missed by his family, his fellow arts patrons and the 
wider Orange County community which will benefit from his generosity 
and goodwill for years to come.

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