June 28, 1972
Page 23104
IN RECOGNITION OF MAURICE M. STEIN
HON. EDMUND S. MUSKIE OF MAINE IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES Wednesday, June 28, 1972
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, Maurice M. Stein, of Lewiston, Maine, a well-known and respected leader of the egg industry in the United States, met an untimely death on May 3 of this year.
Although Mr. Stein had no formal education beyond the secondary level, he was an extraordinarily intelligent and hard-working individual who rose naturally to a position of national leadership in the poultry and egg industry. His leadership in organizing egg producers to improve their bargaining position in the marketplace was his major contribution not only to his own organization, but also to other commodity groups which followed this pattern.
Mr. Stein's dedication to his family, friends, and community paralleled his dedication to his work. He participated actively in religious organizations, civic groups, and other community activities. Maurice will certainly be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and associating with him.
Maurice Stein was born in Boston, Mass., on July 22, 1919, the son of Joseph and Sadie Wyzansky Stein. He attended schools in Malden, Mass., and the Revere, Mass., high school. He was the first Malden man to be drafted in the World War II callup, and was a veteran of invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Anzio, and southern France. He was a veteran of eight major campaigns, with 34 months of overseas duty.
In 1945, in partnership with his brother, Israel, and brother-in-law, William J. Mendelson, he organized Hillcrest Poultry Industries, which was to become a leading quality broiler producing- processing company.
Sensing greater opportunities and challenges in the egg industry, he and his brother Israel organized Maine Egg Farms in 1960. This company's growth was likewise rapid, further attesting to Maurice Stein's unusual management skills. In 1969 Maine Egg Farms was merged into companies forming CalMaine Foods of Jackson, Miss., and thus becoming the world's largest independent egg producing and marketing company. He became a vice president and director of this company, as further testimony of his exceptional managerial abilities.
The following survivors of Maurice M. Stein can take justifiable pride in having shared in his many trials and triumphs: his widow, Mrs. Ida (Mendelson) Stein, Lewiston, Maine; daughter Marsha and son Jacob "Jack," Lewiston, Maine; father Joseph Stein, North Hollywood, Calif.; brothers Israel, Lewiston; George, Los Angeles, Calif.; and Robert, Hookset, N.H.; and sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Berman, Encino, Calif.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that two articles on Maurice Stein be included in the RECORD at this point.
The first is a eulogy by Mr. John Yarbrough of the Poultry Times, Gainesville, Ga.; the second is a special message to the members of the Northeast Egg Marketing Association of Durham, N.H.
There being no objection, the items were ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
[From the Poultry Times, Gainesville, Ga.]
DEATH CLAIMS CHAMPION OF EGG INDUSTRY STRENGTH
The untimely death last week of Maurice M. Stein brought to a close the career of a man whose brilliance lit up many egg industry meetings in recent years.
Mr. Stein moved far beyond his high school educational base. He had the mind of an economics professor, the intellectual persuasiveness of a politician, the fervor of a revivalist, and the heart and stamina of a distance runner.
We often found ourselves on opposite sides of a political or economic issue from that of Mr. Stein, but our differences never diminished our respect for this man's candor, evangelical belief in his "causes" and his complete dedication to the egg industry.
Mr. Stein was one of the founders of United Egg Producers. He was that organization's first president and gave unstintingly of his time, energy and resources to the organization's development. Northeast Egg Marketing Association also carried the stamp of his aid and approval.
This man believed the egg industry could solve its problems and he never quit working for solutions. He was innovative, articulate, sometimes dogmatic, often persuasive and always willing to extend himself for the betterment of his industry, his business, and his country.
Maurice Stein was the kind of a man you would like to have on your side when the battle. flags . were flying and men's minds were in conflict: He will be greatly missed by the egg industry of this country.
[From the Northeast Egg Marketing Association]
OUR RESPECTS TO MAURICE STEIN
The untimely death of Maurice Stein on May 3rd has shocked and saddened many people throughout the egg industry; his close friends and associates as well as casual acquaintances and those who only knew him as an inspiring leader, dedicated to improving the producer's position in the market place.
Maurice was stricken by a heart attack at his office and he died a short time later in a Lewiston, Maine, hospital. He was 62 years old and is survived by his wife Ida, daughter Marsha and son Jacob.
Maurice was recognized and respected throughout the country for his leadership and dedication to improving the egg industry. He had a brilliant mind that resulted in a steady flow of new constructive ideas. He liked nothing better and he asked no more than to see his ideas develop into action that paid off for the entire industry.
He realized the need for producers to work together cooperatively if they were to have a voice in what they received for their product. His leadership resulted in the banding together of New England producers to form the New England Egg Marketing Association. From this it grew into the present organization covering the entire northeast. He has served as president, director and member of the Executive Committee since the organization was started in 1967.
He saw the potential of a national organization involving a single commodity. He took the bold step of asking egg producers from across the country to meet at the Kennedy Airport to explore the possibilities of such an organization in September of 1968. United Egg Producers was the result of this meeting and egg producers are now recognized as being the best organized commodity group and has set the pattern for other commodities to follow. He became the first President of U.E.P. and has served on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee since then.
There will be many times in the months ahead when his leadership and counsel will be greatly missed. We can be thankful as an industry for the contributions that he made. As individuals and as an industry we owe Ida Stein, Marsha and Jacob our deepest gratitude for having shared Maurice with us.
His unusual grasp of national economic trends affecting the egg industry and his willingness to impart his knowledge and wisdom freely to those who sought it attracted many followers and admirers and projected him to a position of seer as well as statesman for the industry. And his articulate voice and statesmanship were both refreshing and reassuring to an industry so frequently plagued with economic crises and strife so common because of its cyclical nature.
He authored numerous articles relating to egg production and marketing and participated in many programs as a speaker and panelist at trade meetings and at university seminars.