Recognizing Mr. Don Devine

Floor Speech

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Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today with Representative Jim Costa to honor the life of Central Valley agriculture leader Don Devine, who passed away on June 4, 2022.

Born in Central City, Kentucky, Mr. Devine personified the American dream. As a young man, he joined the United States Army and spent six years serving in Vietnam. Following his tour of duty, he attended Arizona State University and graduated with a degree in accounting.

After graduating from school and obtaining his CPA license, Mr. Devine joined Harris Ranch Feeding Company, an organization he would spend over forty years working for, eventually working his way up to Senior Vice President of Finance. In the 1980s, Mr. Devine invested in farmland within the Central Valley and co-founded Double D Farms, an institution in our agricultural community, which grew and evolved to grow Pistachios, Almonds, and many other food crops.

In addition to his hard work and success in business, Mr. Devine was also heavily involved in community issues. He was a leader on water issues throughout the Central Valley and served on multiple water board districts such as the Westlands and Pleasant Valley Water Districts.

Mr. Devine was an icon in the Central Valley business and agricultural community. His dedication to his country, community, and family is an inspiration to us all.

We ask our colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in honoring the extraordinary life of Mr. Don Devine.

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