HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2000-4782, by Representatives G. Chandler, McDonald, Mulliken, Bush, Wensman, Carlson, Hankins, Skinner, Fortunato, Koster, Parlette and Pflug

       WHEREAS, Ed McLeary began his first fish farm in 1945 at the spring-fed headwaters of Rocky Ford Creek near Soap Lake, Washington; and

       WHEREAS, Today Troutlodge, Inc., founded by Ed and his wife, Lois, is the world's largest producer of live rainbow trout eggs, with over 350 million eggs shipped to many states in the United States and over 30 foreign countries; and

       WHEREAS, Troutlodge has established itself as a renowned salmonid breeding specialist; and

       WHEREAS, Since the mid-1970s, Ed, his two sons, Randy and Russell, and daughter, Janis, have successfully operated the expansion of the business into international markets; and

       WHEREAS, Through their process of selection, new strains, temperature control, photo adaptation, and more than forty years of concentration, Ed and his family have been able to constantly supply live rainbow trout eggs throughout the year; and

       WHEREAS, This constant supply helped expand world trout production by more than doubling the amount of trout produced; and

       WHEREAS, Ed has been recognized as an industry leader from the very beginning; and

       WHEREAS, He recognized how important political activity was to the industry and worked to gain the Internal Revenue Service's recognition of fish farming as an agricultural pursuit; and

       WHEREAS, In 1995 he received the United States Trout Farmers Association Distinguished White Award; and

       WHEREAS, The United States Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Culture Hall of Fame has been established to recognize those persons who have made significant contributions to the advancement of fish culture in the United States; and

       WHEREAS, In May of this year, Ed will be inducted into the National Fish Culture Hall of Fame by unanimous consent of the American Fisheries Society Fish Culture Section membership;

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives salute, commend, and honor Ed McLeary for his induction into the National Fish Culture Hall of Fame and for his lifetime contributions to the aquaculture industry in Washington state, and for his entrepreneurial spirit that has led to the McLeary family reputation as the world-renowned producers and breeding specialists of rainbow trout and salmon; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives to Ed McLeary and the entire McLeary family, the personnel of Troutlodge, and the American fish farming industry.

       I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

       Resolution 4782 adopted by the House of Representatives

                           March 6, 2000.

________________________________       _____________________________

Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk    Cynthia Zehnder, Co-Chief Clerk