November 19, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2281 

in the community, and to provide service to 

the community. It is with pleasure that I have 

the honor to commend the good work and future of the Mendocino Study Club. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL TOBIN 

HON. JOE COURTNEY OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, Michael 

Tobin was an exceptional academic leader, a 

devoted and loving family man, and friend to 

many. While his passing brings great sadness, 

the memories of this extraordinary man bring 

solace to our community. 

Early in life, Michael attended the University 

of Connecticut, where he was an active participant in ROTC. Following graduation, he entered the Air Force and served as a Second 

Lieutenant. He subsequently earned his PhD 

from the West Michigan University and would 

go on to teach at Southern Connecticut State 

University. 

Between 1976 and 1992, Michael was a 

professor at Southern Connecticut State University. During his tenure, he taught educational leadership to students from our community and communities across the Nation 

and abroad. His professional work inspired 

countless students and instilled the qualities 

that we need in our future educational leaders. 

Beyond these professional achievements, 

Michael was a devoted and loving family man. 

In his passing, the love shared by his extensive family reflects the strong bond that he 

shared with each. 

Throughout these journeys, Michael called 

Vernon, Connecticut his home since 1963. He 

was an excellent neighbor and even better 

friend and his presence will certainly be 

missed. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues 

to join me and my constituents in honoring his 

life and offering condolences to his family. 

f 

HONORING JERRY PRIETO, JR. 

HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to honor Jerry Prieto, Jr. upon being 

honored with the 2008 Greater Fresno Area 

Chamber Agriculturist of the Year. Mr. Prieto 

was honored at a luncheon November 5, 

2008, held at the Radisson Conference Center 

in Fresno, CA. 

Jerry Prieto, Jr. is a native of Corcoran, CA. 

He is the son of a former migrant farm worker 

and was raised in a small town with a small 

family. Mr. Prieto attended California State 

University, Fresno and obtained his bachelor’s 

of science degree in Plant Science. In 1973, 

he began working for the Fresno County Department of Agriculture as a Seasonal Agricultural Aide assigned to track the removal and 

planting of permanent crops. He quickly became a Seasonal Agricultural Inspector assigned to the inspection of cantaloupes and 

grapes. In 1974, he worked on the Citrus 

White Fly eradication project and on June 28th 

was hired as a full-time Agricultural Inspector 

assigned to the Fresno District performing 

plant quarantine and pest detection inspections. He also performed inspections on pesticide use, farm worker safety, seeds, and 

nurseries. In 1977, he was transferred to the 

egg inspection division where he performed 

egg quality inspections. 

Mr. Prieto was appointed as the Supervising 

Agricultural Biologist in charge of the egg inspection program in 1979. Within a year he 

was promoted to the position of Deputy Agricultural Commissioner in charge of the Grower 

and Consumer Protection Division responsible 

for the enforcement of laws and regulations 

pertaining to fruit, vegetable, and egg quality. 

In this position he was also responsible for 

gathering crop statistics and producing the Annual Crop and Livestock Report. By 1984, Mr. 

Prieto had transferred to Deputy Agricultural 

Commissioner of the Environmental Protection 

Division, where he enforced the laws and regulations pertaining to pesticide use, farm worker safety, and the coordination of the installation and implementation of the Fresno County 

Department of Agriculture’s first computerized 

restricted use pesticide permit. 

In 1989, Mr. Prieto left the Fresno County 

Department of Agriculture and took a position 

as a Senior Personnel Analyst with the Human 

Resources Division of the Fresno County Personnel Department. He supervised the county’s labor relations, recruitment and exam programs. In 1993, he was appointed Fresno 

County Resource Manager. He was responsible for solid waste issues throughout the 

county and operated the American Avenue 

Regional Landfill, the Southeast Regional 

Landfill and the Coalinga Landfill. He was also 

responsible for providing road maintenance, 

street lighting, garbage collection, parks, and 

sewer and water services to 90 special districts. 

Mr. Prieto was appointed to the position of 

Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/ 

Sealer of Weight and Measures exactly 25 

years after he began working for the department. He was responsible for promoting and 

regulating the Nation’s highest agriculture producing area. Mr. Prieto was appointed Chairman of Secretary Kawamura’s AB 771 Honeybee/Seedless Mandarin Co-Existence Working Group. Mr. Prieto also served as a member of Governor Gray Davis’ State Committee 

on Terrorism and the Western Weights and 

Measures Association Board of Directors. He 

served as the first Chairman of the California 

Agriculture Commissioners and Sealers Association’s Food Safety and Agriculture Security 

Committee. He served as Chairman of the 

Fresno County Department Heads Council for 

4 years. He is a member of the California 

State University, Fresno Agricultural Plant 

Science Advisory Committee and the Fresno 

County Farm Bureau. He is the Chairman of 

the Fresno County Council of Governments 

Model Farmland Preservation Committee and 

the Fresno County Land Conservation Committee. He is a past president of the California 

Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association. Mr. Prieto served as a judge for the 

Future Farmers of America California State 

Final competition for 23 years. For all of his 

service he has been honored with the ‘‘Distinguished Service Award’’ from the Fresno 

County Farm Bureau, and the ‘‘Service 

Award’’ from the Fresno-Kings Counties 

Cattleman’s Association. 

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend 

and congratulate Jerry Prieto upon being 

awarded as the 2008 Greater Fresno Area 

Chamber Agriculturist of the Year. I invite my 

colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Prieto 

many years of continued success. 

f 

SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS 

Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, 

agreed to by the Senate on February 4, 

1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized schedule of all 

meetings and hearings of Senate committees, subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. 

This title requires all such committees 

to notify the Office of the Senate Daily 

Digest—designated by the Rules Committee—of the time, place, and purpose 

of the meetings, when scheduled, and 

any cancellations or changes in the 

meetings as they occur. 

As an additional procedure along 

with the computerization of this information, the Office of the Senate Daily 

Digest will prepare this information for 

printing in the Extensions of Remarks 

section of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD

on Monday and Wednesday of each 

week. 

Meetings scheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2008 may be found in the 

Daily Digest of today’s RECORD. 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with REMARKS