Capitol Words a project of the Sunlight Foundation

Rep. Mary Bono Mack

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Mr. Michael Bozick, a highly respected and honorable community leader in the district which I have the honor of representing in Congress.

I am deeply grateful for the contributions Mr. Bozick has made to our desert community, and on behalf of the people I represent, I extend sincere appreciation for all he has done to enhance our local economy and improve the lives of area residents. Mike Bozick has made a difference because of his passion for serving the community, his achievements in industry, and his love of our region. In particular, he has helped countless young people through his support of the Coachella Valley Boys & Girls Club, along with numerous other worthwhile charitable organizations and causes.

A generous and devoted family man, Mike Bozick's story is the embodiment of the American dream. Born to a Yugoslavian immigrant family in Masontown, Pennsylvania, he moved to Southern California as a young man. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Southern California, Mike began working in the table grape industry in the mid-1960s, assisting his family with operations at Richard Bagdasarian, Inc., a table grape production company based in California's Coachella Valley. It was during this period that Bozick's passion for the grape industry grew, and he soon developed into an effective and highly regarded leader within the agricultural industry.

Mike Bozick recently completed his 39th year of service as a California Table Grape Commission Board Member, an organization which strives to maintain and expand current markets to new and larger markets for fresh California grapes, both domestically and internationally. As Chairman of the Board, Mike has introduced new and innovative ideas, such as promoting table grapes from all of the commission districts, a rarity in the past since many districts have overlapping markets. His ideas certainly paid off. By 2010, national sales of California table grapes grew to a shipment of 98 million boxes per year--a substantial increase from 20 million in the 1960s. As someone who is deeply committed to the growth of our local economy and the creation of jobs in our region, it is very gratifying to see the expansion and growing popularity of one of our most prized and valued industries, due in large part to Mike's perseverance, passion and dedication.

While Mike has made many contributions to the table grape industry, it is his hard work, entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering generosity that impresses me most. He is the fulfillment of the all-American notion that hard work and dedication pay off, and he has used his success to benefit others and provide an example for young people everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending Michael Bozick for his exemplary record of service and contributions to the people of the Coachella Valley, the California Table Grape Commission, the greater table grape industry, and in sending best wishes for continued success in his future endeavors.