DATE INDUSTRY PIONEER TELLIS CODEKAS

RECEIVES THE 2007 “SUNNY CHUCHIAN” AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Coachella Valley Historical Society Hosts Pledge for Expansion Projects

INDIO, CA. – (February 28, 2007)  Date industry pioneer and longtime Coachella Valley Water District Board Member Tellis Codekas recently received The Sunar “Sunny” Chuchian Award of Excellence from the California Date Administrative Committee (CDAC).

            The awardee is nominated by members of the CDAC – representing California date growers and handlers -- and the vote remains a secret until announced at the Industry Dinner.  Albert Keck, CDAC chairman, presented the plaque to a surprised Codekas following a rendition of his accomplishments.

            “For more than 35 years, this gentleman has been a date, table grape and citrus grower in the Coachella Valley, retiring in 1985 as president of Tenneco West.  He has served as the chairman of the CDAC and California Date Packers Association and is deeply respected throughout the date and agricultural industry,” said Keck, whose family owns Hadley Date Gardens.  Keck’s father John worked closely with Codekas since 1964.

            Tellis and his brothers Jerry and Paul formed their farming businesses known as Codekas Brothers and Sun Gold Ranches – in the 1950s after their father’s death.

            “During his tenure at Tenneco West, Tellis was successful in stabilizing the date marketing and the industry enjoyed some of its best and most prosperous times,” according to John Keck.  “During the same time, Tellis was a member of the board of the Coachella Valley Water District and did much to protect the interest of the farmers in the Coachella Valley from the urban pressure groups.”

            Now a “senior statesman” of the CVWD Board of Directors, Codekas was first elected in 1976, and reelected every four years since.  His current term expires in 2008.  He was selected by his peers as board president serving from 1988 to 2000.

            Codekas has served on many water-related boards and committees and was an inaugural member of the Board of Directors of the Salton Sea Authority, now serving on that joint-powers agency’s technical advisory committee and as an alternate to the state Salton Sea Advisory Committee.

            His community involvement has included serving on former Thermal Elementary School District Board of Trustees (becoming part of Coachella Valley Unified in 1973), and Board of Directors for the Riverside County Fair and Date Festival.  Codekas was also a member of the Indio Jaycees, the Desert Pilots and the Coachella Valley 20-30 Club.

            This year’s dinner was held at the Coachella Valley Museum and Cultural Center and included Author/Historian Pat Laflin reading some early tales published in her collection, Periscope I and II.  Ivan Price, project manager for the museum’s proposed expansion, gave an overview of the projects that will include a working date garden, date history museum and the CDAC offices.  Price and Dee Papan of the Coachella Valley Historical Society conducted a pledge to help fund the proposed expansions and date history museum.

About the Sunny Chuchian Award

            The “Sunny” Chuchian Award of Excellence is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the California Date Industry through innovation, leadership, research, advancement, vision, commitment or other outstanding achievement.

         Prior award recipients include Sunar “Sunny” Chuchian, posthumously (2001); Ben Laflin (2002); Darl Young (2003); John Davies (2004); and Walt Geissler (2005).  There was no award given in 2006.