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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 34
BY SENATOR KOSTELKA AND REPRESENTATI VE DOWNS
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Joe2
Edward Mitcham Sr., founder of Ruston's Mitcham Peach Orchard.3
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness and a profound sense of loss that the Legislature4
of Louisiana and the citizens of Louisiana extend sincere condolences upon learning of the5
death of Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr., founder of Ruston's Mitcham Peach Orchard; and6
WHEREAS, Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr., was born August 14, 1917, in Claiborne7
Parish to Arnold and Valerie Mitcham; and8
WHEREAS, he was a graduate of Summerfield High School; a cum laude graduate9
from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music; and attained a10
Masters in Music Education from Vandercook College in Chicago, Illinois; and11
WHEREAS, he was a talented high school band director at Vidalia, Monterey, Plain12
Dealing, Rocky Mount, and Ruston high schools; and13
WHEREAS, he taught math and science for eleven years at Ruston Junior High14
School and ended his career in education as principal of Ruston Elementary School in 1973;15
and16
WHEREAS, J. E. "Ed" Mitcham, Sr., served as interim choral director several times17
at Temple Baptist Church and as the full-time director at South Side Baptist Church for over18 SCR NO. 34
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fifteen years, where he was a deacon and a Sunday school teacher; and1
WHEREAS, throughout his teaching and choral career, he also continued the peach-2
growing family tradition, by raising peaches on his family farm in Claiborne Parish and in3
1947, he planted his first trees in Lincoln Parish, a small orchard which grew into over three4
hundred and forty acres at its peak; and5
WHEREAS, he became president of Mitcham Farms, Inc., and became known both6
locally and nationally for growing the famous "Ruston Peaches"; and7
WHEREAS, J. E."Ed" Mitcham as the president of the Louisiana Fruit Growers8
Association, assisted Walter Smith, the chairman of the first Louisiana Peach Festival, with9
organizing that first festival held June 27-28, 1951, which featured a program consisting of10
a "Peaches and Posies" flower show, a peach cookery contest, an art show and several11
athletic tournaments all climaxed with the crowning of the First Queen Dixie Gem and12
Princess Peach; and13
WHEREAS, Mitcham's effect on young people reached far beyond a classroom, as14
he gave many people in Lincoln Parish and the surrounding areas their first jobs; he was15
referred to as "Ruston's urban renewal project, if you talk to ten people in Ruston, five of16
them probably learned to be productive citizens by getting their first jobs at the Mitcham17
Peach Orchard"; and18
WHEREAS, J. E. "Ed" Mitcham, Sr., "The Peach King of Louisiana," was an19
exemplary and highly admired citizen of Louisiana, a well-thought-of top leader in the20
Ruston area and throughout Lincoln Parish, an extraordinary man who shall forever be21
remembered for his life's work and accomplishments; and22
WHEREAS, upon his death the world lost a unique individual who left an indelible23
mark upon his community and the lives of all those who knew him; and24
WHEREAS, Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr., was a loving, devoted, and dedicated husband25
to his wife of seventy years Willie Marzie White Mitcham, a committed father, and a26
cherished grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, relative, and friend whose love of27
family was of the utmost importance in his life; and28
WHEREAS, this extraordinary man clearly demonstrated during his life his29
dedication to his family, job, community, state, and his country; and30 SCR NO. 34
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WHEREAS, his numerous accomplishments in public and private life reflected his1
compassion, and commitment to others, and as for the man that made "Ruston" and2
"Peaches" synonymous, the pride that J. E. "Ed" Mitcham, Sr., took in his work is matched3
only by the pride felt by his family and fellow Louisiana citizens; and4
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,5
and the overall vitality of American society depend, in great measure on people like Joe6
Edward Mitcham, Sr., who dedicated his life to the betterment of others.7
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby8
honor the life of Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr., pays tribute to his remarkable legacy, and offers9
sincere condolences to his family, on behalf of the citizens of the state of Louisiana.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the11
family of Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr.12
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Kostelka SCR No.
Expresses condolences upon the death of Joe Edward Mitcham Sr., founder of Ruston's
Mitcham Peach Orchard.