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“RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTIONS OF PAUL ECKE, JR., TO POINSETTIA INDUSTRY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H5033-H5034 on July 22, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTIONS OF PAUL ECKE, JR., TO POINSETTIA INDUSTRY
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 471) to recognize the significant contributions of Paul Ecke, Jr., to the poinsettia industry, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 471
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes Paul Ecke, Jr.'s legendary energy, generosity, integrity, optimism, determination, and love of people which have enabled him to develop the poinsettia industry as well as to touch and improve the lives of children and adults all over the world through his extraordinary contributions; and
(2) extends its condolences to the Ecke Family and to the floral industry on the death of Paul Ecke, Jr., who was a philanthropist, and advocate for education, and a warm, loving, and brilliant human being.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam).
General Leave
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 471.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider H. Res. 471, important legislation introduced by our distinguished and decorated colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).
This resolution recognizes the significant contributions of Paul Ecke, Jr., to the horticultural industry and in particular the poinsettia industry.
The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1825 to 1829. Ambassador Poinsett, who collected the flower while serving as Ambassador and sent them to his greenhouse in South Carolina, brought the first poinsettia to the United States.
Since then, the poinsettia has grown to become synonymous with the Christmas holiday season. For more than 150 years, December 12 has been traditionally recognized as National Poinsettia Day. That date marks the death of Ambassador Poinsett.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, Paul Ecke, Jr., revolutionized the way poinsettias are bred, produced and sold in the United States, making it the best selling potted flowering plant in the United States and the world.
The poinsettia, which is native to Central America, flourished in Southern Mexico, where the Aztec Indians used it decoratively, for medicine, and for dye for textiles. The poinsettia was first brought to the U.S. by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico from 1825 to 1829.
Ecke Ranch, established by Paul Ecke, Sr., and subsequently owned and developed by Paul Ecke, Jr., created a worldwide poinsettia market. In 2001, poinsettias contributed $250 million in sales at the wholesale level to the United States economy, and many times that amount to the economies of countries around the world.
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This resolution recognizes Paul Ecke, Jr.'s integrity and determination and love of people which have enabled him to develop the poinsettia industry and extends condolences to his family on his death.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), the distinguished and decorated top gun in the House; it is a pleasure to be his wing man.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, Paul Ecke, Jr., was not a Congressman, he was not a Senator, but most of the Members in this House, and the other body as well, have benefited not only from Paul Ecke, Jr., but his entire family.
I rise in tribute to Paul Ecke, Jr., who passed away at the age of 76. I do so for my San Diego colleagues who are on a plane unable to make it here tonight, and also former member Ron Packard.
I rise today to pay tribute to the life and accomplishments of my friend, Paul Ecke, Jr., and also my constituent. Paul was a devoted husband and father, a leader in the San Diego community, and a force in the poinsettia industry. While his leadership and the business made him an international figure, it was his warm heart and caring personality that made him a community leader and friend. The entire Ecke family has dedicated themselves to children, education, and the betterment of San Diegoans.
Since I came to Congress, Paul and I have worked together on issues important to our community of San Diego and to the flower industry worldwide. Paul's boundless leadership and generosity was evident in his support of local charities. The Magdalena Ecke YMCA, which was named after his mother; the San Diego Museum of Natural History, which he dedicated personal time in the overseeing of; the California State University at San Marcos, and the Del Mar Fair Grounds. In addition, Paul's industry has given America the world's poinsettia for holidays. Eighty percent of the world's poinsettias are licensed to the Ecke ranch, not a small accomplishment.
I will never forget the first time I met Paul. He came to meet me in my home when I was a candidate for United States Congress. He walked in my living room, he picked up a basket of silk flowers from my coffee table and immediately threw them in the garbage. He told me that he would replace it with something better, and later that day, he sent me an arrangement of real flowers. Paul was a man who noticed every detail and never hesitated to tell you what he was thinking, and who always followed through with his promises.
Paul's life exemplified commitment and service to his community, and he leaves behind a legacy for his family, his friends, and fellow Americans to follow.
Together with poinsettias, Paul Ecke leaves a legacy of philanthropy. His generosity extended not only just to the YMCA, but his father had the Paul Ecke Elementary School named after him, so we can see the entire family has been involved in education.
Paul Ecke, Sr., who died in 1991, developed the first poinsettia cultivar from a wildflower native to Mexico so that it could be successfully grown in an indoor potted plant. Over the years, the family marketed the plant so it could become synonymous with the Christmas holidays. Today, the family employs 300 people in Encinitas and 1,000 in Mexico.
As a member of the YMCA Board of Directors for many years, Ecke, Jr.'s signature fund raiser was a holiday poinsettia ball and annual benefit that would raise $75,000 minimum a year for scholarships for children of low-income families to use at the YMCA. From 1992 to 2000, Ecke, Jr. was a member of the Del Mar Board. During his tenure, the fair flower show expanded to a nationally recognized event. Paul Ecke, Jr.'s son, Paul Ecke, III, now runs the business and told me the motto of the Ecke family house was ``We never give up.'' Paul Ecke, III said that he showed us by example that you do not lie, you do not cheat, and you do not steal, and that you are fair.
Paul Ecke, Jr., joined the Navy and served in the Pacific aboard USS Knapp. He was called back to duty in 1951 to serve as an ensign aboard the USS Perkins in the China Sea during the Korean War. Even then, his green thumb was irrepressible. Paul Ecke, Jr. told me a story about his father, that the guns had shook the ship so much that the Captain's flowerpots had jiggled all the dirt out. Paul Ecke, Jr. got the captain to go to the North Korean shore and gather more earth so that the flowers could grow on the USS Perkins. He was a horticulturist.
Paul Ecke, Jr. earned a degree in horticulture from Ohio State University in 1949. From there, Ecke, Jr. pioneered the use of greenhouses to grow his flowers. He was responsible for the construction of the Floral Trade Center in Carlsbad. If any of the Members have ever attended the flower gathering once a year held over in the Cannon Building, it was Paul Ecke, Jr. who organized the entire event and gave flowers out to every Member of Congress and lady that wanted them, and most of the men as well, for their ladies.
Yes, Paul was a giant man. He was not a Congressman. He was not a Senator. We will miss him.
Mr. Ecke is survived by his wife, Maureen; daughter, Sara Ecke May of Greensboro, North Carolina; daughter Lizbeth Ecke; son of Paul Ecke, III, and 7 grandchildren. May God bless Paul Ecke, Jr.
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
In addition to the other fine things that have been said about Paul Ecke, Jr., he also led the horticulture industry's successful effort to include for the first time significant research funding for floral and nursery crops in the research budget of the United States Department of Agriculture. We extend our condolences to the Ecke family and to the floral industry on the death of Paul Ecke, Jr., who was a philanthropist, an advocate for education, and a warm and loving human being.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in their tribute to Paul Ecke, Jr. and the Ecke family for their contributions to the floral and horticulture industries in this country and particularly for their devotion to the cultivation and improvement of the poinsettia plant.
This is a case where the impact one family has had on an industry cannot go unmentioned, and the unfortunate passing of Paul Ecke, Jr., gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to him and to his father.
Their ingenuity and hard work have made poinsettias a holiday tradition and the largest selling potted plant in this country. It is also an amazing feat when one thinks that over 80 percent of all poinsettia plants grown in the world can trace their origin to the Ecke Ranch.
Paul Ecke, Jr., was a tireless worker on behalf of the entire floriculture industry and his efforts will truly be missed. I send my condolences to his family and to his industry.
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 471.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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