[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING NAN McEVOY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 2, 2015

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Nan McEvoy, who 
passed away on March 26, 2015 at her home in San Francisco at the age 
of 95. A trailblazer and tour-de-force in every aspect of her life, 
Mrs. McEvoy left a lasting impact on family, friends, colleagues, and 
community.
   Mrs. McEvoy occupies, in particular, a special place in the hearts 
of Marin County residents. Along with serving as Chairwoman of the San 
Francisco Chronicle, a leader in several philanthropic causes, and a 
lifelong advocate for women's rights, Mrs. McEvoy also ran an olive 
farm near Petaluma. Originally intended as a getaway for her family to 
experience the beauty Northern California offers, McEvoy Ranch today 
produces high-quality oils and body care products for specialty stores 
across the nation.
   While Mrs. McEvoy's time in Marin represents just a slice of her 
collective achievements, it's an apt metaphor for the remarkable life 
she led. When she first proposed the idea to grow olives, people told 
her that it wouldn't work--that she should use the land for cattle, 
perhaps. She ignored her critics, and moved forward with her original 
plan. Today, McEvoy Ranch now grows more than 18,000 trees and receives 
accolades from national media and local voices alike. In Mrs. McEvoy's 
way, though, her efforts have not just proven successful financially, 
but also for our community as a whole. The ranch uses certified organic 
farming practices, produces its own compost, and--as of 2009--meets 
half its electrical needs with an on-site windmill, the first 
privately-owned turbine of its size in the county.
   Nan McEvoy was a leader in our community and a voice for the 
underserved. While her professional success was remarkable, it's her 
passion for life and compassion for others that will endure. It is 
therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to her today and express our 
deepest condolences to her son and grandchildren.

                          ____________________