KXO RADIO - Imperial County Lost a True Pioneer

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Imperial County Lost a True Pioneer

Todays is : Friday, 09 January 2009

Written by George Gale
Friday, 09 February 2007
(Imperial County has lost a true pioneer)...John F. Menvielle came to the Imperial Valley the same year the county became a county. The son of French immigrants arrived in the Imperial County six weeks after being born in 1907. He turned land near the border into a very profitable farming operation. Menvielle passed away Thursday morning. He was 99 years old. His wife and 3 sons, two of which went on to be elected to the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors, survive him. Elected to the Board first was Ralph Menvielle. John Pierre currently serves on the Board. Both from Division one. The senior Menvielle was reportedly active in his farming operation until the past few years. He was reportedly still operating tractors into his 80's. Services for John F. Menvielle are pending.