Tom Mathison remembered as a tree fruit leader and innovator
Tom Mathison remembered as a tree fruit leader and innovator
WENATCHEE, WA -- Stemilt founder and tree fruit pioneer Thomas Kyle Mathison died Dec. 26 of cancer. He was 82 years old.
Born June 23, 1926 and raised on Stemilt Hill near Wenatchee, Mr. Mathison was a third-generation apple and cherry grower, intelligent businessman and driving force behind bringing Washington fruit to the global marketplace.
Upon graduating from Wenatchee High School, he joined the U.S. Army and fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was in Tokyo Bay for the signing of the armistice as the war ended.
After the war, Mr. Mathison returned home to work on the family farm, which he came to manage after his father's untimely death in 1947.
Not unlike other family farming operations, the Mathisons ran into tough times. After one particularly disappointing crop, Tom Mathison decided to invest in the business and began looking for new ways to improve the quality of his fruit at the marketplace.
He traveled to California to study the harvesting and packing techniques of growers there. Returning home with a wealth of knowledge, he implemented new methods and technologies in order to turn around the family business.
After his innovations proved successful, he began packing for other growers and formally incorporated Stemilt Growers in 1964. His mission was simple: create long-term financial return to the land by building consumer demand.
Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Mathison played a key role in bringing Washington fruit into Japan and China, and also helped forge trade negotiations with Mexico.
Mr. Mathison was also a leader in organic and sustainable farming. In 1989, he began the forward-thinking "Responsible Choice" program, encouraging growers to reduce their use of chemicals and pesticides. His philosophy helped Stemilt become a leader in organic farming and sustainable business practices.
According to his grandson and Stemilt President West Mathison, Tom Mathison spent most of his life working to advance the tree fruit industry through his passion for quality in the field, commitment to building relationships with customers and associates, and leadership in many industry groups.
"He lived a strong life of faith, work and family and for many, set a path of success and an example to live by," West Mathison said in a Dec. 29 statement. "His accomplishments and innovations played a huge part in advancing the tree fruit industry, while his character and down-to-earth style made a lasting impression on those around him."
Mr. Mathison was a founding member of the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission; he also served in positions on the Washington Apple Commission, Northwest Fruit Exporters and many other industry groups. He received numerous awards during his career, including Cherry King in 1971, the Sliver Apple Award in 1991, Apple Man of the Year in 1996, and Good Fruit Grower of the Year in 2002.
He also had the opportunity to meet with U.S. presidents, state governors and many foreign ambassadors to represent the tree fruit industry and its dynamics.
Mr. Mathison is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lorraine; a son Robert (Cleta) Mathison; a son Kyle (Jan) Mathison; and a daughter Lavonne (Hans) van Someren Greve, all of Wenatchee; seven grandchildren, Aaron, Joyce, West, Tate, Susan, Lillian and Steven; and six great-grandchilden, Adelaide, Gage, Finn, Jax, Rye and Thomas.
There will be a public viewing at Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Home Tuesday, Dec. 30 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Funeral services, open to friends, family, employees, growers and associates, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the First Presbyterian Church. A private internment at Stemilt Hill Cemetery will be held following the services.
A celebration of life will be held at the Wenatchee Convention Center at 11 a.m. Wednesday March 18, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made to the Thomas K. Mathison Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the Washington Apple Education Foundation, 2900 Euclid Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801; phone 509/663-7713, fax 509/663-7469.
Born June 23, 1926 and raised on Stemilt Hill near Wenatchee, Mr. Mathison was a third-generation apple and cherry grower, intelligent businessman and driving force behind bringing Washington fruit to the global marketplace.
Upon graduating from Wenatchee High School, he joined the U.S. Army and fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was in Tokyo Bay for the signing of the armistice as the war ended.
After the war, Mr. Mathison returned home to work on the family farm, which he came to manage after his father's untimely death in 1947.
Not unlike other family farming operations, the Mathisons ran into tough times. After one particularly disappointing crop, Tom Mathison decided to invest in the business and began looking for new ways to improve the quality of his fruit at the marketplace.
He traveled to California to study the harvesting and packing techniques of growers there. Returning home with a wealth of knowledge, he implemented new methods and technologies in order to turn around the family business.
After his innovations proved successful, he began packing for other growers and formally incorporated Stemilt Growers in 1964. His mission was simple: create long-term financial return to the land by building consumer demand.
Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Mathison played a key role in bringing Washington fruit into Japan and China, and also helped forge trade negotiations with Mexico.
Mr. Mathison was also a leader in organic and sustainable farming. In 1989, he began the forward-thinking "Responsible Choice" program, encouraging growers to reduce their use of chemicals and pesticides. His philosophy helped Stemilt become a leader in organic farming and sustainable business practices.
According to his grandson and Stemilt President West Mathison, Tom Mathison spent most of his life working to advance the tree fruit industry through his passion for quality in the field, commitment to building relationships with customers and associates, and leadership in many industry groups.
"He lived a strong life of faith, work and family and for many, set a path of success and an example to live by," West Mathison said in a Dec. 29 statement. "His accomplishments and innovations played a huge part in advancing the tree fruit industry, while his character and down-to-earth style made a lasting impression on those around him."
Mr. Mathison was a founding member of the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission; he also served in positions on the Washington Apple Commission, Northwest Fruit Exporters and many other industry groups. He received numerous awards during his career, including Cherry King in 1971, the Sliver Apple Award in 1991, Apple Man of the Year in 1996, and Good Fruit Grower of the Year in 2002.
He also had the opportunity to meet with U.S. presidents, state governors and many foreign ambassadors to represent the tree fruit industry and its dynamics.
Mr. Mathison is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lorraine; a son Robert (Cleta) Mathison; a son Kyle (Jan) Mathison; and a daughter Lavonne (Hans) van Someren Greve, all of Wenatchee; seven grandchildren, Aaron, Joyce, West, Tate, Susan, Lillian and Steven; and six great-grandchilden, Adelaide, Gage, Finn, Jax, Rye and Thomas.
There will be a public viewing at Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Home Tuesday, Dec. 30 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Funeral services, open to friends, family, employees, growers and associates, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the First Presbyterian Church. A private internment at Stemilt Hill Cemetery will be held following the services.
A celebration of life will be held at the Wenatchee Convention Center at 11 a.m. Wednesday March 18, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made to the Thomas K. Mathison Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the Washington Apple Education Foundation, 2900 Euclid Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801; phone 509/663-7713, fax 509/663-7469.
