[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 34 (Monday, February 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E215-E216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF RICHARD KUNDE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 26, 2018

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Richard Kunde, 
who passed away on February 15, 2018 at the age of 75, after a lifetime 
of public service to his community.
  Mr. Kunde was born on September 6, 1942 near his family's ranch in 
Glen Ellen, where they raised Hereford cattle and grew cabernet 
sauvignon grapes. Mr. Kunde attended the University of California, 
Davis (UC Davis) where he continued to study and work at improving 
grape vines by earning degrees in viticulture and horticulture. With 
enologists at UC Davis, Mr. Kunde worked on developing and cloning 
rootstock in order to produce superior grapes to be used throughout 
California and beyond. In 1982, Mr. Kunde purchased Sonoma Grapevines, 
where he continued to push Sonoma County to the top of the world in 
both vine growing and wine production. Always one to put the industry 
above his own personal gain, Mr. Kunde was one of the first nurserymen 
in his field to sell his cloned vines to other growers.
  Mr. Kunde's legacy extends from a personal mission to serve the 
industry and product that he loved so dearly. As leaders in the wine 
industry, he and his late wife, Saralee, were unparalleled supporters 
of Future Farmers of America, 4-H, the Sonoma County Fair, and the 
Harvest Fair. Whether it was placing the highest bid at an auction, 
against himself, or becoming the single largest donor to the education 
and events building at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Mr. Kunde's 
generosity was unmatched. He received many honors over his illustrious 
career, including induction into the Sonoma County Farm Bureau's Hall 
of Fame and the Award of Distinction from the College of Agriculture 
and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis, both in 2008.
  Mr. Kunde is survived by his son, Matthew Kunde and his daughter 
Catherine ``Catie'' Kunde, his granddaughter, and many nieces, nephews, 
and cousins. It is hard to speak about Mr. Kunde's personal or 
professional life without mentioning his constant companion in both, 
his late wife Saralee McClellend Kunde. Known as the shining star of 
their duo, Mrs. Kunde was intimately involved in all of Mr. Kunde's 
professional and philanthropic work.
  Mr. Speaker, the depth of Mr. Kunde's service to his community has 
left a positive legacy across Sonoma County and the entire grape 
growing industry, and he will be profoundly missed. It is therefore 
appropriate that we pay tribute to him today and honor his memory.

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