[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 90 (Friday, June 1, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING GEORGE MacLEOD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 1, 2018

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor George 
MacLeod and remember his rich and full life. Mr. MacLeod leaves behind 
a legacy of successful winemaking and a passion for the industry and 
our community.
  In his early career, Mr. MacLeod was a geophysical engineer, working 
in the electronics industry at Fisher Research Laboratories and Knapic 
Electronics in Silicon Valley. He then worked on the development of 
Light-Emitting Diode (LED) technologies at Monsanto.
  In 1974, Mr. MacLeod and his wife, Greta Fisher MacLeod, bought their 
ranch, 50 rugged acres above Kenwood, California, which was called 
Indian Springs Ranch. Mr. MacLeod dove headfirst in grape growing and 
winemaking and did so with fervor. He took courses at Santa Rosa Junior 
College and the University of California, Davis and contacted grape 
growers in the Sonoma Valley to learn as much as possible about the 
industry and the process.
  Mr. MacLeod liked to joke about his inexperience with farming and 
grape growing. He compensated for his newness to the profession with 
talent, drive and perseverance. The vineyard 's first Sauvignon Blanc 
harvest won a gold medal and Mr. MacLeod loved to tell that story.
  Mr. MacLeod cherished the winemakers of the Sonoma Valley. He helped 
write the constitution for the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers 
Alliance and was its first president. In 2015, Mr. MacLeod was inducted 
into their Hall of Fame, the first person to receive this honor. Mr. 
MacLeod stayed involved with our community as the author of the Journey 
to Harvest column in the Kenwood Press. He also published a memoir, 
family history books and wrote a book on terroir and how it affects the 
flavor of wine.
  Mr. Speaker, George MacLeod was always willing to lend a hand and 
help our community flourish. He was a devoted husband and dedicated 
father and an example of how to live life with integrity and 
generosity. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here 
today.

                          ____________________