John Catlin dies at 89
John Catlin dies at 89
John R. Catlin, who spent some 20 years with the Irvine, CA-based Western Growers Association as the organization's PACA representative, died Jan. 27 in Olympia, WA. He was 90.
Born July 9, 1917, in Platte, SD, Mr. Catlin graduated from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, with a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry. He spent four years in the U.S. Army during World War II, taking part in the Normandy invasion and landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day.
Mr. Catlin began his produce industry career in 1946 as a fruit and vegetable inspector for the state of Washington. He was soon promoted to supervisor, and shortly after went to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He spent five-and-a-half years with the USDA in Washington, DC, working in the PACA branch, and then transferred to Los Angeles as supervisor for the 14 western states.
Mr. Catlin joined Western Growers in 1966, and during the subsequent 20 years recovered millions of dollars in transportation and PACA claims for the organization's members in California and Arizona, according to John Unger, a salesperson for Eco-Farms Avocados Inc. in Temecula, CA, who had worked with Mr. Catlin during his years at Western Growers.
After his retirement from Western Growers in the mid-1960s, Mr. Catlin again went to work for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, this time as deputy marketing director, and put together the state's International Trade Department.
"He was a giant in the industry; well-known throughout the country," said Mr. Unger.
Mr. Catlin is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret, two children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Born July 9, 1917, in Platte, SD, Mr. Catlin graduated from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, with a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry. He spent four years in the U.S. Army during World War II, taking part in the Normandy invasion and landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day.
Mr. Catlin began his produce industry career in 1946 as a fruit and vegetable inspector for the state of Washington. He was soon promoted to supervisor, and shortly after went to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He spent five-and-a-half years with the USDA in Washington, DC, working in the PACA branch, and then transferred to Los Angeles as supervisor for the 14 western states.
Mr. Catlin joined Western Growers in 1966, and during the subsequent 20 years recovered millions of dollars in transportation and PACA claims for the organization's members in California and Arizona, according to John Unger, a salesperson for Eco-Farms Avocados Inc. in Temecula, CA, who had worked with Mr. Catlin during his years at Western Growers.
After his retirement from Western Growers in the mid-1960s, Mr. Catlin again went to work for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, this time as deputy marketing director, and put together the state's International Trade Department.
"He was a giant in the industry; well-known throughout the country," said Mr. Unger.
Mr. Catlin is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret, two children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
