These are troubling times in the rendering industry – exported products being detained at their destination ports; European and U.S. regulations coming from all sides; and the closing of a 90-year-old rendering company.
While there is a silver lining or two amongst the dark clouds, such as rendered products receiving equity in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s bioenergy program, the storm door opened recently when the industry lost three of its members within a month’s time.
Gary Bottomley, past president and chief executive officer of American Proteins, lost his battle with cancer March 26, 2003.
Roger Garrett, president of Diversified Laboratories, succumbed to lung cancer five days later on March 31.
And Gerald “Jerry” Smith, chairman of the board of directors at Valley Proteins, passed away on April 25, also of cancer.
Renderers are a unique bunch. While competitors with one another for the dwindling markets they share, in times of tragedy and loss, they bound together to show their admiration and respect for one another.
J.J. Smith, son of Jerry, knows this. The outpouring of support after his father’s passing – in the cards, flowers, and distances some traveled to attend Jerry’s memorial – demonstrated to J.J. that despite the competitiveness and disagreements on issues between renderers, his father was one of them – one of the rendering family.
Shortly after his father’s passing, J.J. thanked the National Renderers Association Board of Directors and its members on behalf of Jerry for their support of him, his company, and his family over the years.
And the industry thanks Jerry, Gary, and Roger for being the dedicated industry members they were – and for being part of the family.
June 2003 Render