[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 18337-18338] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING BERT STEPHEN CRANE ______ HON. JEFF DENHAM of california in the house of representatives Tuesday, November 29, 2011 Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the life of a beloved leader in the Merced community, Bert Stephen Crane, on his 80th birthday. Bert was born in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley's fertile lands of California on November 29, 1931. He is the fifth generation of California farmers and ranchers that came from Connecticut during the Gold Rush of 1849. His ancestors can be traced to John Alden of the Mayflower landing in Plymouth. A true son of this great country. Growing up on the cattle ranch he learned that the day starts in the saddle before dawn, and it doesn't end until all the work is done [[Page 18338]] and the horses are grained and rubbed down. A cattle sale has always been done with an honest handshake. Bert loves music and was the Drum Major in the Merced High School Band, and played basketball. At Menlo College, Bert enjoyed roping and polo. He later studied at Stanford University and U.C. Davis, where he achieved his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. During these years, he fell in love with a young gal, Nancy Magnuson, who was studying at Stanford University. They married in 1957, raised three children and have been married for over 54 years. Bert's life has been a great and wonderful adventure. His leadership skills have extended from achieving his Eagle Scout as a young man, to the highly coveted Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, which is a recognition award of outstanding service to scouting and the community awarded at the National Scouting level. He has ridden horses with Ronald Reagan, coached Little League and shipped his Registered Red Angus bulls to Europe and Hawaii. He diversified from the beef business in the early 1970s and started farming walnuts as well. Eventually, he built a walnut processing plant with his wife, Nancy and three children, Bert, Mary and Karen. His children and seven grandchildren are following the tradition of ranching and farming. Bert's step-father was James Parker, M.D., a third generation family doctor. James' love for the outdoors was a natural match for Bert, as they enjoyed fishing and duck hunting out on the family's Sunrise Ranch. Bert has always had fond memories of loading up horses, and packing into Hetch Hetchy reservoir, and Davis Lake for trail riding and trout fishing together. His passion for quality healthcare was learned through his stepfather. Bert has served and led fundraising events for Mercy Hospital for over 36 years and spearheaded the building of the Mercy Cancer Center, and a new state-of-the-art Mercy Hospital in Merced. Bert's wife, Nancy, was the founding president of the Mercy Hospital Volunteers and has served for over 40 years. In 1986, Bert was honored by the University of California, Davis Alumni with the Distinguished Achievement Award for his involvement in research in the University's agriculture and governmental programs, along with his community and industry associations. His service to his community, agriculture and research is one of great respect and integrity. Bert served on the Merced County Planning Commission for 28 years. All of this would not have been possible without the work of his loving wife, Nancy, in keeping the home fires burning and taking care of the children while supporting his passion for service to others. Reminiscing With Bert The year was 1943. The place was the Sunrise Ranch of local pioneer C.A. ``Bert'' Crane, located just off the old Gustine Highway. A young cowboy was growing up on this ranch; he was named Bert, after his grandfather. Well, all ranches have dogs and this was no exception. One of Bert's chores was to feed the dogs. To digress a moment, Grandfather Bert had a best friend, Bill Moffat, of Manteca Beef fame. One of Moffat's employees named Scotty Allen, convinced him that it would be good business to use the scraps from the beef plant to make dog food. The result: Scotty Allen dog food. To promote the sale of this product, the cans were wrapped with coupons . . . . Being loyal friends, the Cranes served up nothing but Scotty Allen. As young Bert fed the dogs he fastidiously peeled the coupons off the cans and sent for the catalog of prizes. When the catalog arrived, Bert searched the pages and finally selected his prize: a fabulous crook-neck Boy Scout flashlight. Mother Crane cautioned that Boy Scout flashlights are for Boy Scouts. This saddened Bert, for the chances of becoming a Scout out there ``in the boonies'' were remote. However, after some soul-searching he sent for the flashlight. Soon after, Bert and his family moved to town. Bert packed up his flashlight, and the family settled across the street from Applegate Park. As good luck would have it, there in the park stood the log cabin Boy Scout hut. Bert quickly joined the Scouts and legalized his flashlight. Bert was twelve; his Scout troop was #101; the leader was Scotty Langley. Langley became Bert's mentor and guided him along the journey to the coveted Eagle Scout Award. His first merit badge was for Horsemanship; his second badge was for Steer Production, and he could tie more knots than the Scout handbook. Three years running Bert won the Merced-Mariposa Trail Ride, Junior Division. Bert was a member of Rancheros Visitadores and enjoyed going on the week long trail ride with friends and politicians in the Santa Ynez Valley. One of his friends was the late Governor of California and United States President, Ronald Reagan. Bert was visiting with the then past Governor and seized the opportunity to take a rope off of a saddle and ``lasso'' Reagan in the outhouse. Reagan thought that Bert was going to flip over the outhouse. Reagan opened the door a couple of inches and worked the knot out of the rope and undid the knot. Reagan came out laughing, stating ``You know Bert, I've been in tighter places than that.'' The following is a list of his service and awards: Member of Central Presbyterian Church Bank of America Advisory Board 1957-1969 Bank of America Plan to Prosper Comm. 1967-1968 Bank of America Livestock Symposium 1969-1970 Merced Land Bank Assoc. 1980-1988 Merced County Land Bank Assoc. 1984-1988 Diamond Walnuts Top Twenty Service Walnut Grower 1983 Speaker at U.C. Davis 1973, Livestock Speaker at Fresno 1985, Livestock Speaker at U.C. Davis 1987, Livestock U.C. Davis Alumni Achievement Award 1986 Merced City-County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Livestock Produced for the year 1976 California Farm Bureau Member California Cattlemen's Assoc. 1954-1988 Research Comm. 1968-1970 California Cattlemen's Assoc. Farm Credit Policy Comm. 1984-1988 California Cattlemen's Assoc. Land Use Comm. 1984-1988 Merced-Mariposa Cattlemen's Assoc. 1954-1988, Director 1964 American Quarter Horse Assoc. 1954-1988 American Simmental Assoc. 1969-1970 National American Cattlemen's Assoc. 1970-1988 Beef Health Conference Comm. Davis, California 1968 Livestock Research Advisory Board, Davis, California 1970 Pacific Slope Red Angus Association California Beef Cattle Improvement Assoc. 1965-1988, President 1978- 1980, Director 1966-1970 Rancheros Visitadores Member 1978-1988 Beef Improvement Federation Commendation for Excellence for Feed Stock Breeder 1974 Cattlemen's Expo Member of Formation Comm. Representing Red Angus 1968 Red Angus Association 1951-1988: Registration Comm. Chairman 1964-1968 Board of Directors 1962-1971 President of Assoc. 1969-1971 Top Hand Award 1972 Red Angus Assoc. of America Pioneer Breeder Award 1988 Little League Baseball Coach, 1970 Weaver Union School District Board 1966-1970: Clerk 1968 Vice President 1970 Merced County Planning Comm. 1964-1988, Chairman 1966--1967 Merced County District #1 Alternate Supervisor 1966-1970 Lone Tree Soil Conservation District: Director 1957-1986 President 1957-1962 Secretary 1976-87 Eagle Scout Award, 1946 Boy Scouts of America Comm. Member 1969-1970 Boy Scouts Yosemite Area Council Century Club 1978-1988 Central Presbyterian Church 1945-1988 Usher Comm. Mercy Hospital Lay Advisory Board 1969-1984 Mercy Hospital Foundation Board 1984-1987, Vice Chairman 1985 Mercy Hospital Governing Board 1987-2005 Mercy Hospital Charriada Fiesta Benefit 1985 Host & Co-Chairman Distinguished Eagle Scout Award 1988 Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Bert Stephen Crane for his unwavering leadership, and recognizing his accomplishments and contribution. Bert serves as an example of excellence to those in our community. ____________________