[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 112 (Monday, June 28, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE OF ROBERT EARL ``BOB'' SMITTCAMP

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 28, 2021

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Robert 
Smittcamp. He passed away on March 4, 2021 after many years of 
significant contributions to the San Joaquin Valley. Robert was a part 
of the community, and a dear friend to many.
  Robert was born in Fresno, California to Earl and Muriel Smittcamp on 
May 29, 1941. In 1945, his family purchased the Wawona Ranch from 
Muriel's father that held 40 acres of peaches. This later was known as 
the Smittcamp Family Business. Having a father who served in World War 
II as a marine, Robert was a hard worker along with his siblings, 
Carol, Betsy, and Bill. By the age of 10, Robert knew how to operate a 
forklift. When Robert was diagnosed with polio in 1953, he spent months 
in an iron lung in his parent's living room on the ranch. He developed 
his faith in God during that time and became an acolyte in his church.
  In 1959, Robert graduated with honors from Clovis High School and was 
involved with FFA where he earned many local and national awards. After 
graduating from California State University, Fresno in 1964 with a BS 
in Business-Economics, he and his father, Earl, founded Wawona Frozen 
Foods. The frozen fruit business thrived in downtown Fresno and in 1965 
a freezer plant was built on Alluvia 1 Avenue in Clovis, California. A 
year later, Robert enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 1965 
through 1966 driving the Army General to and from military events in 
San Francisco. He learned cooking tips from the chefs in the kitchen 
that the General would dine at for his meetings, During his time in the 
Army Reserve, Robert still enjoyed working alongside his father. Soon 
after, Janell Robinson entered Robert's life while in the Army 
Reserves, and in 1966, they married and began their own family in 1968 
with son Brent and their daughter Lisa in 1970. Janell gave birth to 
their second son, Brandon in 1982.
  His father, Earl had a big influence on Robert's life. When Earl ran 
for State Senate, Robert saw another path he could take, with politics. 
His interest in politics began and he became a wise mentor for many 
people, but also continued to see himself working in a business. In 
1971, Earl and Robert acquired the San Francisco based Lyons-Magnus and 
decided to move that company to the city of Clovis. Robert served as 
the President and CEO for over 40 years. They made ice cream toppings, 
fruit toppings and non-carbonated drink bases. The company became an 
internationally renowned food manufacturing company. While raising his 
family, Robert continued to work on the company's growth. In 1983, 
Lyons-Magnus leased a manufacturing plant in Kentucky, and after two 
years the company installed and operated the first a septic bottle 
filler in the United States in Clovis. In 1989, the plant was moved to 
downtown Fresno. The company worked with companies like Starbucks, 
McDonalds, Carl's Jr., Dairy Queen, and more.
  When Brent grew older, he worked with his father and Grandpa Earl. In 
1997, Robert and Brent purchased 160 acres together as the B & B Ranch. 
They worked on the Wawona Packing Company fanning over 8,000 acres and 
the ranch. Robert's youngest son, Brandon, shared another one of 
Robert's passions and got into the restaurant business. Robert assisted 
him in acquiring The Lime Lite, a Fresno-based restaurant,
  In 2015, Robert married Annette and welcomed her sons Michael and 
Steven into the family. Robert's family grew and so did the companies. 
In 2017, Robert and Brent decided to sell their companies to the same 
private equity company and stay on the Board of Directors. Robert, 
Brent, and Brandon all worked together.
  Robert had a strong passion to serve the community. He was on Boards 
such as the Community Regional Medical Center, Stanford Medical Centers 
Cardiovascular Institute, St. Agnes Hospital, Board of Governors of 
California State University, and more. His donations to causes, 
hospitals, universities, nonprofits and more throughout the San Joaquin 
Valley were endless. He donated $1 million to help expand a 
neuroscience program and remodel the intensive care unit at Community 
Medical Center. He was a donor for political causes and provided 
student scholarships for the Smittcamp Family Honors College at Fresno 
State, founded by Earl and Muriel Smittcamp.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of 
Robert Earl ``Bob'' Smittcamp. He was a role model, leader and a friend 
of mine. His influence will live on in the San Joaquin Valley for years 
to come.

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