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Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 34
BY SENATOR KOSTELKA AND REPRESENTATIVE DOWNS AND SENATORS
ADLEY, ALARIO, AMEDEE, APPEL , BROOME, CHABERT,
CHAISSON, CHEEK, CLAITOR, CROWE, DONAHUE, DORSEY,
DUPLESSIS, ERDEY, B. GAUTREAUX, N. GAUTREAUX,
GUILLORY, HEBERT, HEITMEIER, JACKSON, LAFLEUR, LONG,
MARIONNEAUX, MARTINY, MCPHERSON, MICHOT, MORREL L,
MORRISH, MOUNT, MURRAY, NEVERS, PETERSON, QUINN,
RISER, SHAW, SMITH, THOMPSON AND WALSWORTH
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Joe
Edward Mitcham Sr., founder of Ruston's Mitcham Peach Orchard.
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness and a profound sense of loss that the Legislature
of Louisiana and the citizens of Louisiana extend sincere condolences upon learning of the
death of Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr., founder of Ruston's Mitcham Peach Orchard; and
WHEREAS, Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr., was born August 14, 1917, in Claiborne
Parish to Arnold and Valerie Mitcham; and
WHEREAS, he was a graduate of Summerfield High School; a cum laude graduate
from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music; and attained a
Masters in Music Education from Vandercook College in Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, he was a talented high school band director at Vidalia, Monterey, Plain
Dealing, Rocky Mount, and Ruston high schools; and
WHEREAS, he taught math and science for eleven years at Ruston Junior High
School and ended his career in education as principal of Ruston Elementary School in 1973;
and
WHEREAS, J. E. "Ed" Mitcham, Sr., served as interim choral director several times
at Temple Baptist Church and as the full-time director at South Side Baptist Church for over
fifteen years, where he was a deacon and a Sunday school teacher; and
WHEREAS, throughout his teaching and choral career, he also continued the peach-
growing family tradition, by raising peaches on his family farm in Claiborne Parish and in
1947, he planted his first trees in Lincoln Parish, a small orchard which grew into over three SCR NO. 34 ENROLLED
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hundred and forty acres at its peak; and
WHEREAS, he became president of Mitcham Farms, Inc., and became known both
locally and nationally for growing the famous "Ruston Peaches"; and
WHEREAS, J. E."Ed" Mitcham as the president of the Louisiana Fruit Growers
Association, assisted Walter Smith, the chairman of the first Louisiana Peach Festival, with
organizing that first festival held June 27-28, 1951, which featured a program consisting of
a "Peaches and Posies" flower show, a peach cookery contest, an art show and several
athletic tournaments all climaxed with the crowning of the First Queen Dixie Gem and
Princess Peach; and
WHEREAS, Mitcham's effect on young people reached far beyond a classroom, as
he gave many people in Lincoln Parish and the surrounding areas their first jobs; he was
referred to as "Ruston's urban renewal project, if you talk to ten people in Ruston, five of
them probably learned to be productive citizens by getting their first jobs at the Mitcham
Peach Orchard"; and
WHEREAS, J. E. "Ed" Mitcham, Sr., "The Peach King of Louisiana," was an
exemplary and highly admired citizen of Louisiana, a well-thought-of top leader in the
Ruston area and throughout Lincoln Parish, an extraordinary man who shall forever be
remembered for his life's work and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, upon his death the world lost a unique individual who left an indelible
mark upon his community and the lives of all those who knew him; and
WHEREAS, Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr., was a loving, devoted, and dedicated husband
to his wife of seventy years Willie Marzie White Mitcham, a committed father, and a
cherished grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, relative, and friend whose love of
family was of the utmost importance in his life; and
WHEREAS, this extraordinary man clearly demonstrated during his life his
dedication to his family, job, community, state, and his country; and
WHEREAS, his numerous accomplishments in public and private life reflected his
compassion, and commitment to others, and as for the man that made "Ruston" and
"Peaches" synonymous, the pride that J. E. "Ed" Mitcham, Sr., took in his work is matched
only by the pride felt by his family and fellow Louisiana citizens; and SCR NO. 34 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
and the overall vitality of American society depend, in great measure on people like Joe
Edward Mitcham, Sr., who dedicated his life to the betterment of others.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
honor the life of Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr., pays tribute to his remarkable legacy, and offers
sincere condolences to his family, on behalf of the citizens of the state of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Joe Edward Mitcham, Sr.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES