[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO BRUCE DOYLE VARNER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 15, 2021

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
Bruce Doyle Varner, who passed away on Saturday, May 8, 2021. Bruce was 
a dedicated leader in the Inland Empire region of California, and he 
will be deeply missed.
  Bruce was born in Los Angeles, California in 1936. His family would 
later move up the coast to San Luis Obispo, where he would spend the 
bulk of his youth. After high school, Bruce decided to attend the 
University of California, Santa Barbara, where he would go on to be a 
star football and baseball player. Despite being recruited by a few 
professional football teams, Bruce was focused on a future legal 
career. Before entering law school, Bruce served briefly in the U.S. 
Army. At UC Hastings Law School, he became Editor in Chief of the Law 
Review and graduated Order of the Coif. After passing the California 
Bar Examination in 1962, Bruce moved to the Inland Empire and launched 
his legal career at a prominent law firm.
  In 1975, Bruce married his wife, Nancy, at the Mission Inn Chapel in 
Riverside, California. He quickly became one of the region's top 
corporate and business transactional attorneys. Bruce was especially 
proud of his work in collaboration with former Stater Bros. Markets' 
President Jack Brown during the 1986 proxy battle over control of the 
company. Bruce and Jack were successful, and Stater Bros. would emerge 
as one of the leading supermarket chains in our region. In another 
landmark effort, Bruce was instrumental in the conversion of a portion 
of Norton Air Force Base into the Stater Bros. corporate headquarters, 
warehouse and distribution center after the base was closed. In 
addition to his legal practice, Bruce was nominated to serve on the 
University of California Board of Regents in 2006 by Governor Arnold 
Schwarzenegger.
  Bruce was predeceased by his beloved wife, Nancy, and survived by his 
brother Ron; sons Kevin, Sean, Brett, and daughter, Nicole; 
grandchildren Zoey, Peyton, Marcus, Devin, Ancel, Finley, Fiona and 
Bruce; daughters-in-law, Tracy and Kristin; and son-in-law Brian. I 
extend my heartfelt condolences to the Varner family, his friends, and 
everyone fortunate enough to know Bruce. Although he may be gone, the 
many contributions Bruce made to his community and family will have a 
lasting impact.

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