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Show Sam left legacy of pride, humor All of us will pass away, but will we be so lucky as to leave behind a legacy as did Sam Raymond? Helping to found Fruit Heights in the early 1930's, Raymond was also the town's first president and mayor for 19 years. He did more than just sit at the head of the town, he was out there working energetically to see that improvements were made to Fruit Heights. A horticulturist, Sam grew a great cherry orchard that yielded yield-ed 125 tons of cherries per season. His orchard gave him the opportunity to hire youth to pick for him. Everyone working Sam knew about rattlesnakes. They knew to turn over their cherry buckets and to know what was making the robin chirp. Raymond, a great story teller, always had a ready story about a skunk, a rattlesnake, a fishing experience or any other topic that would fit the situation. He had a sincere love for farming and great empathy for people. He was particularly fond of children. A bus driver for many years, he was called "Sam the bus driver man" by the children, who would gather around the front of the bus to listen to a story or so he could help them with their math. Often, when problems arose for the small town, he would take residents fishing to give them time to think. Sam Raymond, who died on Jan. 11, 1991 at the age of 83, was a treasure and his legend will live on. Fruit Heights would like to establish a Sam Raymond Memorial Fund. Residents are inviting all who would like to contribute to the memorial to do so by Feb. 1. Contributions will be collected at the Fruit Heights city offices. |