Honoring Industry Leaders

1926-2008

Thomas Kyle Mathison was born June 23, 1926 to Christopher and Adelaide Sherwood Mathison.  He attended public school in Wenatchee and was a member of the high school’s undefeated football team.

Mr. Mathison joined the United States Army in 1944, serving in the Pacific Theater.  When World War II ended Mr. Mathsion was stationed in the Tokyo Bar with the rank of 1st Staff Sergeant.  He returned home to the family farm on Stemilt Hill.  In 1947 Mr. Mathison lost his father and from that day forward assisted his mother and brother with the family farm.

In 1950, France Lorraine Goldy and Tom Mathison were married, a strong union that lasted 58 years until the time of his death.  Mr. & Mrs. Mathison raised three children in their family home on Stemilt Hill. 

In the late-1950s diminishing grower returns prompted Mr. Mathison to seek improvements in fresh market fruit quality.  He started a small packing shed next to his home and eventually began packing fruit for other concerned growers.  In 1964, Mr. Mathison formed Stemilt Growers with a mission of ensuring a long-term financial return to the land.  With his continued investment in research, development and forward-thinking management, the company achieved a leadership role in organic farming and sustainable business practices.  Stemilt Growers became known globally for packing and marketing world-famous tree fruit. 

Mr. Mathison was one of the founding members of the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission; he held positions on the Washington Apple Commission, Northwest Fruit Exporters and many other industry groups. Mr. Mathison’s dedication, talents and abilities earned him numerous awards during his career, including Cherry King in 1971, the Silver Apple Award in 1991, Apple Man of the Year in 1996, and Good Fruit Grower of the Year in 2002.   He met with U.S. Presidents, state governors and many foreign ambassadors, to represent the tree fruit industry and its dynamics.

Mr. Mathison was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wenatchee and enjoyed attending church with his children and extended family.  Rather than speak about his faith, he quietly expressed it through his actions. 

He was survived by his wife, Lorraine; sons, Robert (Cleta) and Kyle (Jan); daughter, Lavonne (Hans) van Someren Gréve; seven grandchildren, Aaron, Joyce, West, Tate, Susan, Lillian and Stephen; and six great-grandchildren, Adelaide, Gage, Finn, Jax, Rye and Thomas.

Mr. Mathison will be long remembered for his contributions to the community, not only as a major employer, but in his charity to schools, worthy events and those in need.  He was instrumental in many innovations that earned Washington tree fruit industry’s world-class reputation.

Friends and family of Mr. Mathison initiated the scholarship fund at the time of his death, believing it a fitting tribute to his strong belief in education and its ability to advance individuals and communities.

1920-2009

 “People everywhere thank me.  I think the thanks should go the other way.  Nothing for me can ever compare with the satisfaction I got from freeing those men.”  Robert Prince in an April 16, 1945 interview with the Seattle P-I.
 
Robert Prince was born in 1920 in Seattle, Washington.  He attended schools in the Seattle Public School System graduating from Garfied High School and then continued his education at Stanford University where he focused on history and economics.  While at Stanford he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1941. 
 
Robert Prince married Barbara Harrison on January 31, 1942 in Seattle.  Just a few months later he was commissioned to New Guinea.   Soon after his return from New Guinea he joined the newly-formed, elite 6th Ranger Battalion.  In January 1945 the U.S. Military learned of the Japanese Army’s new “Kill-All” policy adopted to extinguish last surviving witnesses, prisoners of war.  In response, the 6th Ranger Battalion was charged with rescuing prisoners held at the Japanese POW Camp near Cabanatuan in the Philippines.  Lt. Col. Henry A. Mucci, commander of the 6th Ranger Battalion, hand-picked Mr. Prince to plan the raid.  Mr. Prince’s plan, assembled quickly with limited reconnaissance, successfully liberated 571 prisoners of war on January 31, 1945.  Strategic principles of his plan are still taught at the WSMA West Point.
 
Mr. Prince, his wife, Lt. Col. Mucci and nine other Rangers and their wives were celebrated as heroes for their actions by President Franklin Roosevelt and in war bond campaigns.  In 2005 the successful raid was depicted in the film The Great Raid.  Actor James Franco portrayed Mr. Prince.
 
The Distinguished Service Cross, our nation’s second-highest award for valor, was presented to Mr. Prince for his service to the citizens of the United States.  He was also named to the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame.  Mr. Prince retired from the U.S. Army in 1946 as a Major.
 
After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Prince and his wife moved to Wenatchee where they raised their two sons.  Mr. Prince was active in the apple industry marketing Washington grown fruit and serving in many leadership positions within the industry.  He retired in 1985 as president of Gwin, White and Prince, a Wenatchee-based fruit marketing firm he was instrumental in forming.
 
Mr. & Mrs. Prince had two sons, Jim and Stephen.  Stephen Prince was killed in Vietnam on August 11, 1969.
 
The current ownership of Gwin, White & Prince initiated this scholarship to honor the many contributions Mr. Prince made to his community, industry and nation.  Scholarships awarded in Mr. Prince’s name will help talented students achieve their academic potential and prepare for valuable service to their chosen communities and industries.

1941-2000

Richard Keller of Yakima was regarded as a true leader in the tree fruit industry.  Born in 1941 in Yakima, he was raised and educated in Cowiche.  He attended Highland High School graduating in 1959.  Upon graduation, Mr. Keller attended Washington State University obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1964.

Mr. Keller returned to the Yakima Valley where he began his service to the tree fruit industry.  At the time of his death, he was the president of Northwestern Fruit & Produce and an owner of Upper Valley Farm Service Center and Keller Fruit.

He served on the board of directors for the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District, the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association and the Washington Apple Education Foundation.  He was a commission of the Washington Apple Commission and held many other positions of leadership within the apple industry.

He was survived by his wife Patricia of Cowiche; two children, Julie and James; his mother Eleanor; a brother Raymond; and two sisters, Roberta Caffrey and Rosalinde Saunders.

1957 - 2006

Lester L. Woda was born January 29, 1957 in Omak to parents Lloyd and June Woda. He graduated from Okanogan High School and attended college at Eastern Washington University graduating with a degree in Business Administration in 1980. Mr. Woda met and married Janice August 18, 1990 in Reno, Nevada. The couple decided to make their home in the Okanogan Valley where they raised their family.

Mr. Woda held a life-long passion for agriculture, dedicating his professional career to tree fruit production in Okanogan County. His first job in the industry was with his own company, L. Woda, Inc. where he turned close to forty acres from sagebrush into orchard. Followed by employment at Johnny Appleseed Orchard in Mallot where he worked for over twelve years as he continued to advance in the organization. Mr. Woda was the general manager of the 1,100 acre tree fruit orchard at the time of his death on July 18, 2006.

Mr. Woda was described as a man with the "energy of any three people" and an eternal optimist with a drive to accept and overcome any challenge. He had an adventurous spirit - maintaining his scuba and pilots licenses and enjoying time on his dirt bike. He treated Johnny Appleseed orchard as his own and treated his employees the way he wanted to be treated. Mr. Woda was a member of the Washington State Horticultural Association and annually attended its meeting of industry professionals in December.

While his passion was growing tree fruits, his love was his family. He expressed his love and admiration for his parents and sister, his wife, and his kids and grandson. One of his favorite things was to take his wife, Janice for a flight in his 172 Cessna. She was a reluctant passenger, but if she was 'armed' with a camera, it helped.

Mr. Woda is survived by his wife, Janice Woda, his parents, Lloyd and June Woda, his sister, Debra Pryor, his step-children, Bob Conn and Sally Knapp, his grandson, Carson, and many friends and co-workers that mourn his loss.

A scholarship fund, established by those who knew and loved Mr. Woda, awards an Okanogan County student pursuing a career in agriculture with a scholarship honoring the passion of Mr. Woda.

1952-2010

Lester “Les” Moser lost his battle with Creutzfeldt Jakobs Disease on June 19, 2010.  He was born in Batesville, AR on August 21, 1952.  Les attended elementary school in Batesville until age eight.  His family relocated at that time and he attended school in their new home of Dryden through his high school graduation in 1970.

Les served his country in the United States Army from 1972 to 1974, including a tour of duty in Korea.  He received an Honorable Discharge from the Army in 1974 with the rank of Specialist.

On May 31, 1975, Les married Betty Lay in Leavenworth.  The couple celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary not long before his death.  Mr. & Mrs. Moser had two sons, Michael and Thomas.

Les began work in the tree fruit industry soon after returning to Dryden from military service.  His career began with Remley Orchards and Independent Warehouse.  He later worked for Cashmere Fruit Exchange and then Blue Bird, Inc..   At the time of death, Les was the Organic Plant Manager for Blue Bird, Inc. fruit cooperative at the company’s Wenatchee location.

Les was involved in his community and was a member of several groups including the Leavenworth Golf Club, Dryden Gun Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.  He was a volunteer firefighter in Dryden for 30 years.  Additionally, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with friends and family.

The Les Moser Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Blue Bird, Inc. and the Wenatchee Wild to honor the positive impact Les had with his co-workers and in his community. 

1931-2006

1897 - 1994

1927 - 2006

1966 - 1996

1936 - 2007

C. G. Robbins was born December 9, 1936 in Idabel, Oklahoma to Curtis andLucille Robbins. He died November 10, 2007 near his long-time home in Tieton.

The Robbins family moved to the Cowiche-Tieton area when Mr. Robbins wasten-years old. He attended school in the Highland School District, excelling in every organized sport offered. Mr. Robbins athletic acumen led him to Central Washington College (now Central Washington University) where he added the school’s boxing champion title to his trophy room currently featuring the undefeated 1955-56 Light Heavy Weight Boxing Champion of the Yakima Valley crown. At Central, Mr. Robbins also played college football.

An injury ended his college sports career after his freshman year and Mr. Robbinsjoined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Germany.

Mr. Robbins devoted his life to his family, friends and farming in Tieton. Hispurchased his first orchard with long-time friend Ralph Strand soon after returning from his Air Force tour. In addition to managing his own acreage, Mr. Robbins worked for Strand Apples until retirement in 2000.

Mr. Robbins was quick to help others but slow to ask for anything. He believed inhard work and minding his own business, unless someone needed him. Mr. Robbins gave generously to children in his community, enjoying time spent coaching young people.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors included his sisters, Joyce Mcdonaldand Wilma J. Robbins; brother, Pink Robbins; and nieces and nephews.

Mr. Robbins sister Wilma Robbins created this scholarship in his memory to assiststudents raised in her brother’s home community attend college.

1962 - 2005

1917 - 1973

1930 - 1992

1934 - 1995

1943 - 2005

1901 - 1986

1924 - 2001

1920 - 2005

Harold E. Grim was born to Damon and Viola (Ferkel) Grim on April 5, 1920, at Lees Creek, Ohio. The family made its home in Wilmington, Ohio, where Mr. Grim developed his skill and passion for agriculture while working on the family farm.

After graduating from high school in Dayton, Ohio, Mr. Grim was pulled to the great farmland of the Entiat Valley and began farming for his Uncle Harry Grim. During the fall he was employed by Standard Fruit Company.

In July 1944 he married the woman that became the 60-year love of his life, Naomi (Aimee) Kuest. The couple lived in Entiat for the next 56 years, raising their two sons in the family home.

Mr. Grim purchased his first apple orchard in Entiat in 1950. It was followed by the purchase of two more orchards in the Entiat Valley and production of apples and pears until his retirement and the passing on of orchard management to his son, Bruce; though his attentive eye and advice continued to be enthusiastically welcomed on the orchard.

Mr. Grim was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also enjoyed boating trips with family and friends. After retirement, the couple’s travel trailer took them all over Washington discovering sites when they were not enjoying warmer weather while wintering in Arizona.

Mr. Grim was an active in the Entiat community with membership in the Entiat Federated Church, Entiat Grange, Entiat Chamber of Commerce, Entiat Warehouse Board of Directors, and Skookum, Inc. Board of Directors. Additionally, he was elected to the Entiat School Board and served for a time as chairman of the board. While chairman of the board, he proudly presented both of his sons with their high school diplomas. He was honored with the Chelan County Soil Conservationist of the Year in 1961.

He was survived by him wife, Aimee; sons, Douglas (Tina) and Bruce (Candy); and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Family and friends of Mr. Grim created the scholarship in his memory to honor his strong legacy in the tree fruit industry and to assist young men and women and from the community he was so proud of.

Horace M. Gilbert: 1862 - 1951

Marion Richey Gilbert: 1862 - 1934

Born in 1862 in Geneseo, Illinois, H.M. Gilbert was raised in a family dedicated to the occupation of farming. Likewise, Marion Richey, a native of Lasalle County, Illinois, was also of prominent farming background.

The two met while attending Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, in the class of 1885. Mr. Gilbert obtained Liberal Arts and Veterinary Science degrees and just three years later was bestowed a Master of Arts degree from his alma mater. When his school days ended, Mr. Gilbert took up the agricultural life. He owned a corn and hog ranch and quickly became a well-known stock farmer in Illinois.

H.M. and Marion were married in 1892. After five years of marriage and three children, they moved west to the developing fertile soils of the Yakima Valley. They came by train and brought livestock to help establish a farm. The family chose to build their home near north Yakima to be closer to cultural interests. Mrs. Gilbert managed the family’s 20 acre orchard while Mr. Gilbert developed land in the lower valley.

The Richey and Gilbert Company formed in 1897 as a partnership between Mr. Gilbert and his father-in-law. It had large investments in commercial fruit production and an extensive interest in production real estate. The Richey and Gilbert Company is credited for its help in establishing important infrastructure in the Yakima area.

Mr. Gilbert was a founding member and president of the Tieton Water Users Association . He was also the fifth president of the Washington State Horticulture Association and a Trustee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1929. Mr. Gilbert was the first president of the Central Bank of Toppenish.

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were very active in community affairs and traveled extensively throughout the world. In 1913, their travels to the Orient led Mr. Gilbert to be the first to study the Asian export potential of Yakima apples.

Mrs. Gilbert taught high school and was passionately involved in many cultural activities such as theatre and music. She was instrumental in building Yakima’s YWCA. Mrs. Gilbert was a member of DAR, an early president of the Woman’s Club (which later joined with the Century Club), initiated the “Talent Night” lecture series, and was an early advocate of women’s suffrage.

Together, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were very involved in the Congregational Church. They loved the Northwest for its countless opportunities and contributed greatly to general improvement and prosperity of the community as a whole.

The H.M. and Marion Gilbert Memorial scholarship was established by their family to assist young people exhibiting entrepreneurial characteristics.

E. Ralph: 1920 - 1997

Ida: 1912 - 2002

1927 - 1993

Grady Auvil: 1905 - 1998

Lillie Auvil: 1909 - 2005

Grady Auvil was born December 7, 1905 in Yeager, West Virginia, to Llewellyn and Ida (Ashworth) Auvil. The family relocated to Entiat when he was two and remained in the community throughout Mr. Auvil’s school aged years. Mr. Auvil graduated from high school in 1922 and continued his education at Washington State University.

Lillie Brandt was born July 6, 1909 in Mesa, Washington, to Louis and Anna Brandt. Her family moved to Withrow, Washington, not long after her birth where her father had purchased a wheat ranch. Her mother died when she was two and Lillie moved to Illinois to be with her Germanspeaking paternal grandparents. English did not become her primary language until she was school age. She remained in Illinois through her youth where she participated wholly with her extended family and became active in the Lutheran Church.

Following her graduation from high school, Lillie returned to her family in Washington and began college at Eastern State College (Eastern Washington University). She graduated in 1930 with a degree in education. She taught at Dyer Hill (Douglas County) and later in Withrow. She dedicated her salary to helping her younger sister complete her own education at Eastern State College.

In 1928, when Mr. Auvil was 22, he moved to Orondo and founded the Auvil Fruit Company. Four years later he met and married Lillie Brandt and together they made their home near the company offices in Auvil. Mrs. Auvil was instrumental to the Auvil Fruit Company throughout their marriage, even cashing in her teaching vouchers valued at $2000 to help the company get started.

Mr. Auvil was considered a visionary in the tree fruit industry. He introduced many new fruits and innovations beneficial to growers. Mr. Auvil brought to the Northwest the Red Haven Peach (1941), Red Gold Nectarine (1960), Granny Smith apple (1972), and successfully marketed commercial Rainier cherries (1975). In 1948 he introduced the use of grass to cover orchards; in 1952 he identified poplar trees for windbreaks; underground sprinklers for frost control followed in 1967; in 1972 he pioneered use of M26 rootstocks; and in 1981 double-row planting for Granny Smiths. He was also instrumental in establishing the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission in 1968.

Mr. Auvil was awarded Grower of the Year in 1954, 1960, 1981 and 1990; he was named Cherry King in 1986 by the Washington State Fruit Commission; and the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival named him their inaugural Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1981. In 1998 Governor Locke recognized Mr. Auvil’s outstanding achievements when he presented him with the Washington State Legislature’s Washington State Medal of Merit.

Mr. Auvil served as president of the Washington State Horticultural Association (1953). He was a fifteen-year member of the Orondo Public Schools Board and a twenty-year member of the Douglas County Schools Reorganizational Committee. He was elected to the Douglas County PUD Commission for six years and was a long-time member of the grant committee of the WSU Tree Fruit Research Commission. He was a 50-year member of the Orondo Grange.

Mrs. Auvil’s established her priority to raise the couple’s three children and care for the home, though her input and encouragement was frequently sought on matters pertaining to the business. Additionally, she was a 66-year member of the Orondo Grange and Auxiliary and a long-time member of the Wenatchee Garden Club and Ladies’ Club.

The couple was survived by their three children, Deanna (Bert) Navone, Allen (Patti) Auvil and John (Pam) Auvil, and many grand- and great-grand children.

Proceeds from the Grady and Lillie Auvil Memorial fund support education at Washington State University (WSU), development at the WSU Tree Fruit Research Station, and horticultural scholarship at Wenatchee Valley Community College.

1919 - 1998

1922 - 2005

Howard Hauff was born in 1919 to John and Elizabeth Hauff in Dickens Township, South Dakota. Helen (Bones) Hauff was born in 1922 to Ethel (Davis) Bones and Fred H. Bones in Parker, South Dakota. They both attended South Dakota State University where Howard graduated in 1942 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Agriculture and Bachelors of Arts degree in Journalism and Helen with a degree in Home Economics.

They married in 1942 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Soon after, Mr. Hauff was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army. He received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his exemplary service. Upon discharge, Mr. Hauff worked for the American Herford Journal of Kansas City, Missouri. In 1947, the Hauffs opened an implement company in Minnesota which they owned and operated for 18 years.

Mr.and Mrs. Hauff moved to the Yakima Valley in 1965 and founded the H.F. Hauff Company, a manufacturer of specialized agriculture equipment. Sharing a keen foresight and vision, they ran the global distribution company together.

Mrs. Hauff was the driving force behind manufacturing new equipment at H.F. Hauff Company and providing first-rate customer service. She had a unique knack for recognizing customers by the sound of their voice.

Mr. Hauff’s greatest attribute to the business was pioneering the marketing and introduction of new technology. He is acknowledged for innovating new concepts to the agriculture industry such as diesel tractors, commercial fertilizers, concentrate spraying and ground power wind machines.

Family and education were important to both Mr. and Mrs. Hauff. All four of their children received a college education, one of Mrs. Hauff’s greatest personal achievements. Beyond family and business, Mrs. Hauff had a passion for gardening. She loved to spend time in her garden tending to roses and other flowers.

Mr. Hauff took part in numerous industry and community organizations. He was a member of the Alpha Zeta, an honorary agricultural fraternal organization; Pi Kappa Delta, a national forensics society for debaters and orators; and Sigma Delta Chi, a national professional journalism organization. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Family members and friends of Howard Hauff established a scholarship fund in memory at the time of his death in 1998. The scholarship evolved to include Mrs. Hauff after her passing in 2005. The family has requested that recipients of the scholarship funds be studying for a degree in engineering or business; pursuing a career in the tree fruit industry and been raised in a family involved in the tree fruit industry.

1907 - 1967

1924 - 2008

Jacquelyn Horan McDougall was born in Wenatchee in 1924 to John Rankin and Helen (Vandivort) Horan. The family lived in the home built by Wenatchee pioneers Michael and Margaret Horan.

Ms. Horan attended local schools and graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1942. She continued her education at Washington State College (now Washington State University) graduating in 1946 with degrees in foreign language and music. Ms. Horan was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at Washington State and served as business manger to the college’s newspaper, The Evergreen.

Ms. Horan became Mrs. McDougall in 1947 when she married Robert Duncan McDougall in Wenatchee. Three sons were born of the marriage: Douglas, Stuart and Scott. The McDougall family resided in the old Horan home where Jackie and her siblings were raised.

The McDougall family tended the Horan fruit packing facility and orchard property for many years, later building the fruit packing and growing operation of McDougall and Sons, Inc.. It continues its operation led now by her sons Scott and Stuart and her grandson Bryon.

Mrs. McDougall was active in many organizations, with a large percentage of her time spent in support of civic responsibilities. She was a member of the League of Women Voters, and president of Chelan County Republican Women and the Washington State Republic Women. Mrs. McDougall represented the state as delegate to the National Republic Convention when Richard Nixon was selected as the party’s nominee.

Locally, Mrs. McDougall was a member of the YMCA board of directors and area coordinator of its youth and government program. She was appointed to the region’s Selective Service Local Board.

Her professional career included stints on the board of directors at Horan Brothers, Incorporated, and as president and officer manager of Mac’s Pak Fruit Company. Later in life, Mrs. McDougall became a counselor for the local alcohol and drug treatment center where she helped many people turn to a life of sobriety. Her ability to fluently converse in Spanish allowed the center to extend its services to Spanish speaking members of the community.

The children of Mrs. McDougall created the Jacquelyn Horan McDougall Memorial Scholarship in her honor. Recipients of the award are children of McDougall and Sons employees who have achieved top scholastic honors in high school while actively engaging in service to their school and community.

1927 - 1993

1920 - 2006

Joe Bulleri was one of the original orchardists in Quincy. Born in 1920 in Ellensburg, Washington, he spent his formative years in Fife. Mr. Bulleri was called to serve his country during World War II and was stationed in Japan. After the war he returned to Washington State University, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Agriculture.

Mr. Bulleri’s love and passion for agriculture led him to the ideal farming landscape of Quincy. He and friend Les Guis soon went into business together and co-owned Quincy Truck and Implements and later Cascade View Orchards. Mr. Bulleri devoted the majority of his time managing the farming branch of the business. He later purchased a 74-acre orchard and named it after his only son, Peter. Mr. Bulleri along with George and Tom Pheasant, Jack and Dick Toevs, Glen Forney and Ray Emtman established one of the first controlled atmosphere buildings in Quincy, allowing apple growers to store their fruit for extended periods of time.

Mr. Bulleri was active in the community and compassionate about helping others. He was known for his quiet and thoughtful demeanor, always willing to extend a helping hand to fellow farmers and community endeavors. He was past President of the Quincy Rotary Club and involved in other organizations.

Mr. Bulleri was married to his wife Roberta for 53 years and they had one son, Peter.

In 2004, Mr. and Mrs. Bulleri established a private foundation to provide funding for education and research benefiting the tree fruit industry. To recognize his many contributions to the industry, family and community, a permanent scholarship assisting Quincy High School students was created in his name after his death. The scholarship is open to current and former graduates of Quincy High School pursuing a degree compatible with service to the tree fruit industry at an accredited two or four year college or university.

1952 - 1969

Joseph Martin Casper lived a meaningful life, cut short at the age of 17 two weeks after receiving a serious spinal injury in a high school football game. Joe was born October 31, 1952 to Mr. and Mrs. Leo Casper and was raised in the Yakima Valley. At the time of his death in 1969, he was a junior at Highland High School in Cowiche.

Joe was an all sport letterman as well as an A student. He had been in his third year on the football team and led the team in scoring in 1968. Joe was also involved in basketball earning the role of starting forward as a sophomore. He scored 325 points in 23 games for a14.1 average and helped lead his team to the Valley A League championship and a trip to the state tournament in Tacoma. He was an honorable mention pick on the All-Valley basketball team.

Joe was active in other school programs and was a member of Young Life and the YMCA. He was the recipient of a Distinguished Achievement Award for Scholarship from the American Legion in 1967. Joe loved the great outdoors. Fishing and hiking in the mountains were his passion, along with sports! The athletic field at Highland High was dedicated in his honor in 2005.

Joseph Casper was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Casper, brothers Lyle and Michael and two sisters, Mary (Ron) Zirkle and Barbara (Gary) Marquardt.

The Joe Casper Memorial Scholarship was created by friends and family of Joe to recognize talented graduates of Highland High School that have involved themselves in school and community activities.

1894 - 1968

Karl J. Hendershott was born July 20, 1894 and raised in Barry County, Michigan. Following his graduation from Lansing High School, Mr. Hendershott served his country in the Marine Corps during World War I. He attended and graduated from Michigan State University in 1920. That same year he moved to Okanogan and in 1921 moved to Chelan. On June 24, 1924, he married Elizabeth Chamberlain in Seattle.

Mr. Hendershott was selected by the eight founding members of Lake Chelan Fruit Growers in 1921 to lead the burgeoning cooperative as its manager. The foundation established by Mr. Hendershott and the original members of Lake Chelan Fruit Growers led to the eventual formation of the largest fresh fruit apple packing cooperative in the world (currently knows as Chelan Fruit Cooperative). In the early 1920s, Mr. Hendershott steered the move from Lake Chelan Fruit Growers’ original facilities to the Cooperative’s current location in preparation for the reconfiguration of Lake Chelan and the building of the Lake Chelan Hydro-Electric Dam.

“Mr. Trout”, as he was endearingly termed by industry friends (the cooperative’s apple box label featured the depiction of a fresh trout), served as the association’s manager from its inception in 1921 until his retirement in 1966. Mr. Raymond O’Neal, one of the growers involved in creating the scholarship honoring Mr. Hendershott speaks fondly of his association with him, “Mel Crowder, Paul Peters, Leo Crowder and I established the scholarship in memory of our friend, Karl. He helped the growers by running a good organization and consistently returned a profit. We wanted him to be remembered.”

In addition to his professional service, Mr. Hendershott was active in many community affairs, including leadership roles as president of the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Chelan and a member of many other fraternal and civic organizations. Mr. Hendershott was elected mayor of Chelan in 1929 and served through 1932.

In 1946, prior to the construction of the Lake Chelan Community Hospital, Mr. Hendershott was named president of the Lake Chelan Hospital Association, chairman of its board of directors and was instrumental in establishing the institution. He served as a director for 20 years. It was noted that although the photograph cannot be found, it was probably he who ceremoniously dug the first shovel of dirt starting construction of the current Lake Chelan Community Hospital.

Contributions made by Mr. Hendershott to the citizens of Chelan, growers and development of the apple industry in the Lake Chelan Valley were not unnoticed. To honor him, the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce named him Citizen of the Year in 1967.

Karl Hendershott was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and their two sons, Robert and Karl, Jr.

The scholarship in his honor assists young people from Washington state pursuing a career in production tree fruit agriculture.

1952-2010

Glady was born in Goldendale, WA in 1952 and was raised in Central California. He passed away unexpectedly October 1, 2010.

After earning a business degree, Glady moved back to Washington State in 1974 as a sales associate for Tennaco West.  In 1980, Glady became the sales manager for Beebe Orchards and operated in this capacity for 9 years.

In 1989, Glady started Columbia Marketing International (CMI) with partners Nick Buak, McDougall and Sons, Inc. and Columbia Fruit Packers.  As President, Glady helped guide CMI from 1.8 million cartons annually to one of the largest shippers/growers of apples, pears and cherries in Washington State. As an active member of the Northwest tree fruit community for nearly four decades, Glady’s contributions have helped shape the progression of the industry through times of dramatic change. 

Glady married Chris Irwin on September 24, 2005.  He had two sons, Tom Bellamy and Robert Goodwin; a step son, Eric Schmidt; and step daughter, Stephany Schmidt.

In addition to involvement in the tree fruit industry, Glady was an involved community member. He served as a council member for the City of Chelan, was active in the Republican Party and helped organize local sports events, among many other contributions.

In the mid-1990s, CMI, along with Columbia Fruit Packers and McDougall & Sons, started the CCM Scholarship Fund through the Washington Apple Education Foundation.  Annually students whose parents work for the marketing firm or packing plants are awarded scholarships that contribute an equivalent of 85% of the cost of  tuition, books, room and board at Washington state public school for up to four years.

With Glady’s known belief in education through his personal involvement in the CCM Scholarship Fund, his family elected to start a scholarship fund in his memory to help great kids succeed.  Friends from around the world have contributed to the

Nick Buak offered this comment on behalf of the entire CMI family, “Glady was a fantastic individual who cared deeply for his family, colleagues and business associates, cherishing his relationships and holding them close. Glady believed in the future of our industry, and leaves a legacy that will last for many generations to come. He will be dearly missed by all.”

1907 - 1974

Louis Van Doren Sr. was born in 1907 near Mansfield, WA where he spent his early years. The family of ten children moved to Wenatchee in 1921. During the summers he worked in the fruit packinghouses. In high school he was a key member of the football and baseball teams.

After graduating from Wenatchee High School in 1927, he moved to Portland and attended Oregon Institute of Technology. An educational inheritance allowed him to attend California Institute of Technology in Los Angeles. He graduated from Cal Tech with a degree in electrical engineering. This was in the middle of the depression and jobs were difficult to find. He returned to Wenatchee and went to work as a mechanic at Skookum Packers which was located at Ninth and Wenatchee Ave.

In 1946, Louis Van Doren Sr. and his wife Bonnie decided to start their own business. He had an exceptional talent for inventing and designing machines for use in the packinghouses. He also had the ability to select quality people to help build the business. His team's first equipment mechanized the handling of wooden boxes in the packinghouse. Within ten years his business was supplying packinghouse equipment throughout the Pacific Northwest. Today Van Doren Sales is the industry leader in cherry, pear and apple industry fruit packing systems. Mr. Van Doren would be very proud to know his family's third generation is continuing his business.

The motto “Quality Pays” was one of his favorite sayings and beliefs. He applied this philosophy to his life, family, business relationships and the products and service he provided.

Louis Van Doren Sr.’s children continue with his dream. They are happy to provide this scholarship for a student pursuing an engineering degree related to the Pacific Northwest Fruit industry in his honor.

Orville: 1915 - 2005

Bertha: 1919 - 2007

Orville M. Peebles was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the son of Hal and Stella (Troupe) Peebles. While a young man, his family moved to Council Grove, Kansas, where Mr. Peebles attended school. Bertha Peebles was born in Council Grove to Reaper and Georgia (Coates) Williams. It was while in school at Council Grove that the two met and later married. Mr. and Mrs. Peebles moved to Pasco, Washington and later to Pateros. In 1945, the family settled in the Lake Chelan Valley.

Mr. Peebles was a veteran of World War II, a proud member of the United States Marine Corps. During the war he served in numerous missions as part of the 2nd Marine Regiment and the 22nd Battalion operating in the South Pacific Islands. Following his discharge and move to the Lake Chelan area, Mr. Peebles was employed in heavy construction working on Chief Joseph Dam, Wells Dam, Rock Reach Dam and Rock Island Dam. Mr. Peebles’ entry into the apple industry came with his purchase of an orchard in 1948. His activity in the industry, which included service as a board member of Blue Chelan and later Trout fruit cooperatives, continued until his death. Mr. Peebles was an active member of the Chelan and Manson communities serving as a leader of 4H, FFA, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts and a member of VFW Post 6853, Chelan Valley Lodge #118 and F. and A.M. He was honored for that service when he was selected as Citizen of the Year in Chelan.

Mrs. Peebles was active with her husband in the community and in their orchard business. In the 1970s, she was employed with the Migrant Day Care Center in Manson providing a safe environment and nutritious meals for the young children of migrant orchard workers. In fact, she was known for her love of feeding people and regularly gathered friends and family to share dishes of homemade traditional comfort foods. Mrs. Peebles was a long-time member of the Silver Star Chapter 93, O.E.S and a Past Worthy Matron. She was a member of the Chelan Senior Center and the VFW Post 6853 Auxiliary. Mrs. Peebles supported her family’s efforts and was involved herself in 4H, FFA and Cub Scouts.

Mr. and Mrs. Peebles had two sons: Marrian (Diane) and Herold (Vicki). The two boys followed their parents into the tree fruit industry and were partners in family orchard operations.

In memory of their parents, the Peebles family established a scholarship fund to assist young people raised in their long-time home communities of Chelan and Manson.

Robert J. Allan was born in 1906 in Naches, Washington. Graduating from Naches High School in 1926, he went on to Washington State University. In 1942, Robert met and later married Hope Whitenack. Hope Whitenack Allan was born in Selah, Washington in 1910. She graduated from Selah High School and received a degree in education at Bellingham Normal. After marrying Robert Allan she spent the next 60 years living in Naches raising her children and being a devoted wife.

Robert Allan had tremendous pride in being a farmer. He was a proud part of the second generation of Allan brothers who chose to pursue the tree fruit industry in the early 1930’s. Mr. Allan was pleased to be part of the Naches community. He was active on the Naches school board for 15 years and actively supported the school and community activities. In 1983 he was chosen Northwest Cherry King and State FFA Farmer of the Year.

Hope Allan’s zest for life was infectious to the people around her. She loved to camp, fish and spend time with her husband, family and friends. Hope was active in the Yakima Valley Museum and the Daughters of the Pioneers, she was also the guiding light for a group of campfire girls.

Mr. and Mrs. Allan are survived by their three children and their spouses, George and Kay Allan, David and Cheryl Allan and Ruth and Robert Pringle and many grandchildren.

Many years ago Mr. and Mrs. Allan started giving scholarships to students interested in agriculture, which allowed them to establish wonderful friendships with young people in the Naches Valley. The tradition of assisting students lives on with the Allan Family. A scholarship is awarded yearly in the names of Robert and Hope Allan to a young man or woman from Naches High School pursuing a degree at an accredited two our four year college/university or trade school.