[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8007]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        IN TRIBUTE TO DALE BONE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Holding) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, across this country, there are great men 
and women who answer the call to serve their communities. These folks 
are blessed with remarkable talents and success and share their success 
with their communities to improve the places that we all call home.
  In North Carolina's 13th Congressional District, that man was Dale 
Bone. Dale was a man who exemplified the character, commitment, and 
charity of our district and who left behind a legacy of improving all 
things that he touched.
  Born and raised in rural Nash County, Dale was a proud graduate of NC 
State University with degrees in agronomy and agricultural economy. 
After several years farming in his home community, Dale founded Nash 
Produce in 1977 and, within a decade, had grown it into the largest 
cucumber producer in the country.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Bone was a man of constant and restless energy. He 
served on countless State and national boards, committees and 
commissions, including his service as president of the National Council 
of Agricultural Employers. Dale also delved into his local community 
with characteristic resolve. He served as a trustee for Barton College, 
as a board member for the Salvation Army, and on the Arts Council of 
Wilson, North Carolina.
  In addition to all of his honors and activism, Dale was also able to 
make a direct, personal impact in the lives of his employees and their 
children. Dale cared deeply for the well-being of all of his employees, 
many of whom were migrant workers, by providing them with the financial 
support necessary for them to learn English at the local community 
college.
  Dale and his beloved wife, Genia, were also committed to improving 
the lives of local children. Dale and Genia endowed the Bone Scholars 
program at NC State University, which continues to offer significant 
scholarships to the children of migrant workers. In his later years, 
Dale was particularly proud of the involvement he and his wife had in 
creating and promoting Wilson Youth United, which offers direction and 
guidance to help local youths in the community.
  Dale was a man of great ability and, as a result, of great means. He 
recognized the fact that our country is only as strong as its 
communities and that the best solutions to our problems usually come 
from the most local sources.
  Across the Nation, members of the agricultural community sent thanks 
to Dale for his decades of untiring work on their behalf. In equal 
measure, Dale educated and prepared those around him to face the 
challenges of their futures. Dale was in all things a humble man, but I 
do believe that he would take great pride in the legacy that he leaves 
behind.
  Mr. Speaker, America was built by people like Dale Bone; and it's 
that spirit, not what we do here in Washington, that will rebuild our 
economy.

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