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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN MEMORY OF THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF ROBERT LEE JONES, SR.
______
HON. MARCY KAPTUR
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the
remarkable life of Robert ``Bob'' Lee Jones, Sr. On August 4, 2020, Bob
returned to his creator after fulfilling a lifelong service as a
visionary farmer and educator who helped shaped sustainable farming for
Northern Ohio and America.
Born in Zanesville and raised in Huron, OH, Bob embraced farming as
his birthright, passed down from his father, Melvin ``Pete'' Jones, a
sheep farmer in Southern Ohio. He and his father shared a love for
farming and Lyman wooden boats, while he and his mother, Marjorie
``Mimi'', enjoyed spending time at the Huron Lakefront Park.
Having agriculture in his DNA, Bob attended The Ohio State University
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and Bowling
Green State University. Academically gifted and scientifically curious,
he proudly collected and read a library of old and new agricultural and
business volumes over his lifetime.
One of Bob's proudest and dearest accomplishments was his six-decade
long marriage to his beloved high school sweetheart and wife, Barbara.
His beautiful wife Barbara built their Garden Enterprise at his side, a
partnership of love and botanical genius. Her racks of thousands of
cookbooks and recipes formed foundation stones for the evolving Chefs'
Garden that attracts the finest chefs in the world for advanced
training. Together, they raised three remarkable children, Melvin
``Lee'', Terri Lynn, and Bob Jr., who will proudly continue their
father's work.
The most prolific and enduring part of Bob's legacy was born out of
persistence and the strength he and his family summoned to rise above.
After suffering a setback in the 1980s, Bob and his family created the
Chefs' Garden. The Chefs' Garden is a mixture of traditional farming,
innovative food safety programs, and education that provides fresh
vegetables, microgreens, herbs, edible flowers to chefs with an
``Earth-to-Table'' philosophy. For the past three decades, Bob lead his
family to catapult their operation into a force, which provides chefs
in 50 states and 14 countries with flavorful, sustainable, and high
class produce.
Ever evolving, Bob's business became a botanical science campus, with
plants and students from nearby and around the world coming to partake
in his Culinary Vegetable Institute. The Institute is a world class
educational, research, and event facility where chefs and their teams
come to immerse themselves in revitalizing education or team building
missions. Bob's dedication to his craft knew no bounds, and he wanted
to share that with the chief benefactors of his mission, chefs.
Bob and Barbara's passion for education yielded their nationwide
nonprofit-Veggie U. Nothing could equal ``Farmer Jones'' in his denim
jeans trekking to schools everywhere with Grow Kits to educate children
and teachers for the next generation about the magical power of the
productive earth. Veggie U educates children on the processes of
planting, growing, harvesting crops, as well as healthy eating
strategies, in their classroom. They also offer a dedicated program for
special needs students. The program has sprouted 8,300 classroom
gardens and graduated 207,500 students in 36 states. Veggie U ensures
Bob and his family's mission will remain steadfast for many generations
to follow.
One of Bob's last gifts to his country came during the Coronavirus
pandemic. He and his family were devising plans to get fresh produce to
the needy well before federal assistance was implemented. They are
patriots, participating in USDA's Farmers to Families Food Box program,
providing their world-class produce to help feed those devastated by
the pandemic. His desire to ensure people were properly nourished
persisted until his last breath, and with the help of his beautiful
family, will continue.
Robert Lee Jones, Sr. was a giant among men. His focus and dedication
to agriculture never wavered and furthered the progress of American
farming. I send my deepest condolences to his family, especially his
beloved wife, children, grandchildren, and the many people who were
touched by his life. May they find solace in the faith Bob held so
dear, and may the angels raise him to a place of peace and comfort
which he so richly deserves.
____________________