[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 15 (Friday, January 24, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF LARRY J. RAVEN

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 24, 2020

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Larry J. Raven, who passed away on January 6, 2020. Larry was an 
appointee to the City of Fresno Parks Commission, the blue-ribbon Zoo 
Commission and the General Plan Commission for over 40 years.
  Larry J. Raven was born on January 25, 1939 in Selma, California to 
Isabel and Phil Raven and was a lifelong Fresno County resident. He and 
his older brother, Jerry W. Raven started a dairy on their parent's 
ranch when Larry was just 13. Larry was active in Future Farmers of 
America at Selma Union High School, serving as president in 1957. He 
earned the title of California Farmer and in 1958 achieved the highest 
honor of American Farmer. In 1961, he and his brother opened a drive-
thru grocery store in Selma and sold their own brand of milk, Roselane.
  In June of 1963, Larry married the love of his life Penny Nichelini. 
Two years later, Penny and Larry opened the first R Pantry Market, a 
drive-thru grocery market. In a few short years they had 9 convenience 
stores and an additional 3 old fashioned meat markets called, Holy Cow 
Meat Markets. Always ahead of his time, the R Pantry Markets, Inc. was 
the first franchised convenience market chain in the state of 
California and the first business in the state to offer self-service 
gasoline pumps.
  In the 1970s, Larry and Penny purchased an old winery in Selma, 
renamed it Raven Alcohol Distillery, and converted it to California's 
first fuel alcohol distillery, producing thousands of gallons of 
product daily. He became a national expert on the conversion of 
molasses to fuel alcohol and obtained a U.S. Patent in 2002 for his 
``Process and Apparatus for Conversion of Biodegradable Organic 
Material into Product Gas''.
  In the 1970s, both Larry and Penny became licensed California Real 
Estate brokers and founded The Raven Company. Shortly after, Larry 
became a licensed California Contractor and built his first subdivision 
in Selma, eventually building over 1,000 family homes and 
neighborhoods. For the America's Bicentennial, Larry spearheaded the 
idea of planting thousands of red, white and blue petunias along the 
old boulevard and it was designated ``America's Largest, Private 
Bicentennial Display''. Larry was an outspoken supporter of the 
completion of Highways 41, 180 and 168 and invited the California 
Highway Commission to meet in Fresno; at his urging the Commission 
voted to allocate the funds to build Highway 41.
  In the 1980s, Larry and his sons began the yuletide tradition of 
``Candlelight Christmas on Huntington Boulevard'' with over 100 
homeowners decorating their homes which delighted tens of thousands of 
visitors annually and continued for 21 years. Larry also organized an 
effort to paint the 52 classic lampposts in the historic mile, becoming 
the largest private improvement ever made to city property and featured 
in Sunset Magazine. Between 2010-2015, the couple acquired several 
ranches with plans to build subdivisions. As a result, Larry went back 
to his roots and became a successful farmer, devoting most of his time 
to a 120-acre ranch in Sanger with oranges and almonds.
  Larry is survived by his wife, Penny and their sons Tagge and Corbyn; 
Corbyn's wife Stephanie Raven and their four children, Bella, Carsyn, 
Audrey Grace and Declyn Raven; his brother Jerry W. Raven and wife 
LaVerne Raven and many nephews and a niece.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of 
Larry J. Raven. His commitment and dedication to the Central Valley 
community left an impact on many. We join his family and friends in 
honoring his great life.

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