March 24 , 2022 - The Indomitable Farmer John Muller

Posted by Editor: FDBobko

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The FOGHORN

ROTARY CLUB OF HALF MOON BAY

March 24, 2022

John Muller

The Indomitable HMB Farmer John

Article by Steve Wilson

Photos by Liz Schuck

Our March 25 meeting was our first back at the library for two years! We were attended by 17 Rotarians, Liz's guest Barb Nielsen (a pediatric nurse with a long history of service on the Coast) and our speaker, the indomitable Farmer John Muller. After President Joe led the pledge, we went straight to Farmer John's presentation, which was an entertaining recap of his peregination from his birth in San Gregorio through his upbringing here to his time in the Navy and parallel careers in flower growing and public service. John brought with him mementos of many of his experiences and assignments over the years. Hopefully he will write a memoir of all this.

John recounted his graduation from Hatch in 1959, then the new HMBHS in its 1963 first graduating class-- then straight into the Navy for three years, including reconnoitering the coast of Russia on a secret assignment. He returned in 1966 and wound up on the Truth or Consequences TV show with stories to tell. He provided HMB-grown strawflowers for Caroline Kennedy's wedding.

John's father-in-law was a well-respected four-time mayor of HMB, so public service was kind of predictable. Just some of John's public service assignments included participation in programs (later the Board) of the Agricultural Education Foundation, the CA Regional Water Board (21 years!), the HMB City Council, Mayor of HMB, the trial and later settlement of the Yamagiwa/ Chop Keenan inverse condemnation case against the city, the Citizens FBI Program and some current volunteer work at SFO for Department of Homeland Security. Now retired from flower and organic vegetable farming, we suspect that John will probably pursue his passion of public service as long as he can get up in the morning.

Club Meeting - March 24, 2022

Pledge of Allegiance

Inspirational Thought -

Announcements

Box lunches available next week for $15, payable by check or Square. Contact Liz for signup and menu. Hopefully there will be enough signups that our provider can make a long term commitment.
District Assembly is this weekend; see Mitone for details;
Abundant Grace will continue to need our lunches at least through April for Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are hoping to convert after April to a system where the served population makes its own meals; more to come on this.
Pres. Joe announced that we now have 30 dues-paying members--new members are critically important to this club, so please get the word out and bring guests now that we are back live again.
We will do our Canada Cove Gardening Project April 2 starting at 9:00 a.m. Some seniors living there are no longer agile enough to be able to keep up their lots and need our help. Final details next week.
Rotary Day of Service is April 9. Three projects will be available at Coyote Point. More to come on this.

Pres. Joe's Weekly 'States of the Union' Quiz - IOWA

State of the day was Iowa, with focus on all things corn (20,300 sq. mi. planted to corn in that state), 85-90% of the land in agriculture, and the highest percentage of Civil War active service (Union) amongst its menfolk. Our guest Barb Neilsen grew up in Waterloo, Iowa.

Marble Game

Ginger won the marble drawing but drew green. She did however use the occasion to announce that Barterra Winery is the happy recipient of city approval to establish a parklet for expanded customer service. She got to be the guinea pig for other businesses following her, which took a lot of time, but at least the city did the right thing.

PHOTO GALLERY