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“TRIBUTE TO WINSTON WILSON” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1042 on May 20, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO WINSTON WILSON
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HON. CHARLES W. STENHOLM
of texas
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 20, 1999
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, this week the Nation, and particularly the agricultural industry, lost one of its most important assets, Winston Wilson. Winston made a difference for his family, his community, his industry and for this country.
I got to know Winston before either one of us moved to Washington. Following his service as Deputy Undersecretary of Agriculture in the Carter Administration, Winston came to my Congressional office as Administrative Assistant. His time in my office was brief--just about a year from December 1980 to November 1981--but that was plenty of time for Winston and his wife Mickie, and daughters Michelle and Missy, to endear themselves to us and to become a permanent part of our office family.
In an era where the voices of agriculture are becoming fewer and fainter, Winston stood out as one of the most effective spokespersons for the wheat farmers from whom he came. His Daddy trained him well in the fields at Quanah, giving him the kind of Texas common sense that few possess at the national level. Winston never forgot his roots, even though he traveled the world over in promotion of U.S. Agriculture.
When Winston left my office, he continued his advocacy of the industry at U.S. Wheat Associates, where he served as President until 1997. He also was Chairman of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council, founding member of the U.S. Grain Quality Workshop, a former President of the National Association of Wheat Growers, and a member of the U.S. Agriculture Department's Trade Advisory Committee.
More than anything, Winston committed his life to the advocacy of American wheat. He spent a great portion of his life working hard to develop overseas markets for U.S. farmers, and he developed strategies and programs to build export demand for U.S. wheat. U.S. Wheat Associates, with whom Winston had such a long relationship, is a worldwide organization supported by wheat producers in Texas and 17 other states along with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. Under Winston's leadership, the organization has been successful in establishing and servicing markets for up to 60 percent of the wheat produced in the U.S. and up to 80 percent of the wheat produced in Texas. The farm economy is struggling at the present time but without Winston's efforts, our struggles would be far greater.
Winston is survived by a lovely wife and daughters, who we will continue to hold in our prayers as they deal with this great loss. They and all of Winston's friends, not to be mentioning the entire wheat industry, are enormously proud of what Winston accomplished in his life. We have many fond--and often times amusing--memories of our time with Winston and we will always treasure those thoughts.
For those of us who are left behind, even the longest life of a loved one seems too short. So, in instances such as this untimely death, it is impossible not to feel cheated out of many years which we had hoped to share. We feel a great loss this week but we also celebrate the life Winston Wilson lived. He will remain in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.
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