[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H3383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE PASSING OF RICK ANTLE

  (Mr. PANETTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of 
Rick Antle, an absolute legend of the agriculture industry in our 
Salinas Valley and all across our great Nation.
  Rick was the president and CEO of the produce giant, Tanimura & 
Antle. T&A's success was due to Rick's and his family's stewardship of 
the environment, as well as his employees. For the farmworkers, who he 
called the backbone of his business, he provided state-of-the-art 
healthcare and housing, and invited all of his employees to join a 
stock option program so that they could become owners of the company. 
The way he ran T&A was a testament to his caring personality and his 
political philosophy.
  Yet, for Rick, nothing was more important than family. A beloved son, 
a devoted husband and soulmate to his wife, Tonya, a doting 
grandfather, and a dedicated father, Rick's love for his family, 
generosity to his employees, and contributions to the agriculture 
community and to our community will never be forgotten.
  That is why I will never forget his son, Brian, recounting the best 
piece of advice Rick ever gave him, which was that ``the best 
fertilizer a farmer can ever use is his shadow.'' To me, that 
philosophy sums up Rick and the Antle family, and that is why he will 
always be there, and that is why Rick Antle will always be with us.

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