[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7829]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING WILBURN BROWN OF MENDOCINO COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 11, 2010

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
commemorate the civic accomplishments of Wilburn ``Webb'' Brown, on the 
occasion of his 100th birthday. As an exemplary citizen his service has 
benefitted the ruggedly beautiful Mendocino County in northern 
California where he has lived his entire life. His contributions are 
long lasting and statewide.
  Born in Ukiah on May 7, 1910, he grew up on ranches leased by his 
parents in Hopland and Talmage. He moved to Potter Valley in 1943 and 
began raising dairy cattle when there were 14 dairies in this 
picturesque community where he still resides.
  A retired rancher, Webb Brown was a longtime Mendocino County 
Assessor, an elected position he held from 1955 through 1977. He was 
President of the California Assessors Association in 1963. As head of 
its legislative program, Webb Brown was responsible for 12 major bills 
dealing with tax assessment and passed by the State legislature. He is 
renowned for creation of property-tax practices favoring the 
preservation of farmland and open space.
  He was a leader on passing a timber yield tax that required owners of 
woodlands to pay taxes only on trees they harvested. In 1965 he played 
a statewide leadership role in the passage of the Williamson Act of 
1965, which greatly limited what farmers and ranchers had to pay in 
property taxes as long as they kept their land undeveloped.
  Upon his retirement from the Assessor's office he was honored as 
``one of the State of California's highest respected assessors.'' He is 
known for his willingness to meet problems head on and his courage in 
making unpopular decisions as well as his fair application of state tax 
laws to everyone.
  He also served on the Mendocino Air Management District Hearing 
Board, the Potter Valley Board of Education, the Ukiah Unified School 
Board and he was the Chair of the Save the College Committee for 
Mendocino College. He is committed to improving the quality of 
education and the hiring of capable teachers as well as seeking 
competitive salaries for teachers. In 1980 he was awarded the 
Distinguished Citizen Award by Mendocino College for helping establish 
the college.
  In addition to his community service and ranching skill, Webb Brown 
is known for being a loving husband, father, stepfather and 
grandfather. He has four children, three stepchildren, 18 
grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and seven great-great 
grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews who will join the 
celebration of his 100th birthday.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, Webb Brown has earned the admiration 
and respect of his peers, his community and his family. He is a friend 
and a mentor in Mendocino County and his legacy is long lasting. For 
these reasons, it is appropriate that we honor Wilburn ``Webb'' Brown.

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