[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 32189]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ROY PARKE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Roy Parke, Jr., a 
friend, constituent, and pioneer in our country's strawberry industry.
  Roy Parke virtually founded our country's strawberry industry. He 
moved to my district in the 1950s and, with his father, founded 
Parkesdale Farms, which today is a multimillion-dollar operation which 
produces most of our country's winter strawberries.
  Roy was a farming pioneer. He oversaw the first successful shipment 
of berries to Europe in 1963. He was the first farmer to spray 
strawberries with water during the winter to protect them from freezing 
temperatures. He is considered one of our country's leading authorities 
on cutting-edge production techniques.
  I am pleased to say that Roy has dedicated his life to more than 
personal success. He has for years actively supported and promoted 
local volunteer and civic organizations, as well as helping area 
schools and students. He also helped make the Florida Strawberry 
Festival the country's premiere event for strawberry lovers. He helped 
make it such a success that presidents, movie stars, entertainers, and 
everyone in between have stopped to visit Roy and eat shortcake with 
him.
  Roy recently turned over the day-to-day operation of his company to 
his children and his wife of 60 years, Helen. Although he attributes 
all of his success to her, I know that his hard work, dedication, and 
perseverance also have helped him succeed in what anyone who knows 
farming will tell you is a very difficult way of life.
  Mr. Speaker, Roy Parke is an outstanding husband, father, farmer, and 
American. I am proud to call him, and his wonderful wife, friends and 
constituents. They are, without question, national treasures who should 
serve as examples to us all.

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