[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 147 (Tuesday, August 18, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN MEMORY OF THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF ROBERT LEE JONES, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 18, 2020

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
remarkable life of Robert ``Bob'' Lee Jones, Sr. On August 4, 2020, Bob 
returned to his creator after fulfilling a lifelong service as a 
visionary farmer and educator who helped shaped sustainable farming for 
Northern Ohio and America.
  Born in Zanesville and raised in Huron, OH, Bob embraced farming as 
his birthright, passed down from his father, Melvin ``Pete'' Jones, a 
sheep farmer in Southern Ohio. He and his father shared a love for 
farming and Lyman wooden boats, while he and his mother, Marjorie 
``Mimi'', enjoyed spending time at the Huron Lakefront Park.
  Having agriculture in his DNA, Bob attended The Ohio State University 
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and Bowling 
Green State University. Academically gifted and scientifically curious, 
he proudly collected and read a library of old and new agricultural and 
business volumes over his lifetime.
  One of Bob's proudest and dearest accomplishments was his six-decade 
long marriage to his beloved high school sweetheart and wife, Barbara. 
His beautiful wife Barbara built their Garden Enterprise at his side, a 
partnership of love and botanical genius. Her racks of thousands of 
cookbooks and recipes formed foundation stones for the evolving Chefs' 
Garden that attracts the finest chefs in the world for advanced 
training. Together, they raised three remarkable children, Melvin 
``Lee'', Terri Lynn, and Bob Jr., who will proudly continue their 
father's work.
  The most prolific and enduring part of Bob's legacy was born out of 
persistence and the strength he and his family summoned to rise above. 
After suffering a setback in the 1980s, Bob and his family created the 
Chefs' Garden. The Chefs' Garden is a mixture of traditional farming, 
innovative food safety programs, and education that provides fresh 
vegetables, microgreens, herbs, edible flowers to chefs with an 
``Earth-to-Table'' philosophy. For the past three decades, Bob lead his 
family to catapult their operation into a force, which provides chefs 
in 50 states and 14 countries with flavorful, sustainable, and high 
class produce.
  Ever evolving, Bob's business became a botanical science campus, with 
plants and students from nearby and around the world coming to partake 
in his Culinary Vegetable Institute. The Institute is a world class 
educational, research, and event facility where chefs and their teams 
come to immerse themselves in revitalizing education or team building 
missions. Bob's dedication to his craft knew no bounds, and he wanted 
to share that with the chief benefactors of his mission, chefs.
  Bob and Barbara's passion for education yielded their nationwide 
nonprofit-Veggie U. Nothing could equal ``Farmer Jones'' in his denim 
jeans trekking to schools everywhere with Grow Kits to educate children 
and teachers for the next generation about the magical power of the 
productive earth. Veggie U educates children on the processes of 
planting, growing, harvesting crops, as well as healthy eating 
strategies, in their classroom. They also offer a dedicated program for 
special needs students. The program has sprouted 8,300 classroom 
gardens and graduated 207,500 students in 36 states. Veggie U ensures 
Bob and his family's mission will remain steadfast for many generations 
to follow.
  One of Bob's last gifts to his country came during the Coronavirus 
pandemic. He and his family were devising plans to get fresh produce to 
the needy well before federal assistance was implemented. They are 
patriots, participating in USDA's Farmers to Families Food Box program, 
providing their world-class produce to help feed those devastated by 
the pandemic. His desire to ensure people were properly nourished 
persisted until his last breath, and with the help of his beautiful 
family, will continue.
  Robert Lee Jones, Sr. was a giant among men. His focus and dedication 
to agriculture never wavered and furthered the progress of American 
farming. I send my deepest condolences to his family, especially his 
beloved wife, children, grandchildren, and the many people who were 
touched by his life. May they find solace in the faith Bob held so 
dear, and may the angels raise him to a place of peace and comfort 
which he so richly deserves.

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