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<title>A Tribute to</title>
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<img border="0" src="Gustavo.jpg" width="377" height="336"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: right; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<i><font size="1">Agri-Energy Roundtable</font></i></p>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt">A </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">
Tribute to Gustavo de los Reyes:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<span style="font-size: 14pt">Agro-Entrepreneurial Diplomat for Food
Security</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt">(1913-2014)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
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<font size="2">by</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center">
<font size="2">Nicholas E. Hollis</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center">
<font size="2">All Rights Reserved</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thirty years ago an international mission
(24 private sector representatives from six countries) traveled to Henan
Province in central China for exploratory talks and tours on agro-industrial and raw materials
projects. The unusual program, led by legendary cattleman Gustavo de los
Reyes (King Ranch Venezuela), had been carefully negotiated following an
invitation from provincial officials to the Agri-Energy Roundtable (AER),
the sponsoring non-governmental organization. The nine-day mission,
including conferences and receptions at high levels in Beijing and
Zhengzhou (Henan�s capital), represented an important opening to the world
for Henan, China�s bread-basket and a major energy-producer. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At its conclusion, after an obligatory visit to the
Great Wall, the mission was considered a significant success on many
levels and won praise from participating international companies including
Ralston-Purina, Oscar Mayer Foods, FMC, Atlantic Richfield, HVA Holland,
Buhler Brothers, Transports Frigorifiques Europeens (TFE), Hawaiian
Agronomics, Wagner Mining, and others.</p>
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<img border="0" src="Gustavo%20and%20Henan%20Governor%20Small.jpg" width="500" height="332"><p align="right" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<i><font size="1">Agri-Energy Roundtable</font></i></p>
<p align="justify">
<font size="2">OFFICIAL AUDIENCE -- Gustavo de los Reyes celebrates
mission success with Henan Governor He Zhukang at palace in
Zhengzhou (March 1984).</font></td>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Despite the fanfare, the mission probably would have
been lost to history and eclipsed by the explosive Chinese economic
success story which unfolded in the decades since. But as the delegates
were flying home on March 25, 1984, the Associated Press ran a wire story
featuring Gustavo�s offer of artificial insemination to improve China�s
cattle herds. This news went worldwide, gaining coverage especially in
Cuba and Venezuela (where Gustavo managed a 35,000-head cattle ranch near
Valencia. With more than a billion people to feed (at that time) and
limited arable/grasslands, Gustavo wisely calculated the challenges facing
China�s quest for food security. Yet in his remarks was the knowledge of
history, wisdom, and humanity of spirit which enthralled his hosts and his
delegates alike. Two weeks later Gustavo�s pragmatic business side
delivered when 200 doses of bull semen arrived via refrigerated air
freight to China�s vice minister of agriculture in Beijing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What few knew or realized then was Gustavo�s
outstanding diplomatic skills had been honed many years before over the
hard anvil of Fidel Castro�s notorious La Cabana prison where De los Reyes
had been locked under death sentence for defying the dictator. Abandoned
and betrayed by the U.S. government, Gustavo�s miraculous survival and
escape -- sprung by his loyal friend, Bob Kleberg of King Ranch � led him
on a path to Venezuela where Gustavo organized and built up the Rio
Yaracuy Ranch (largely financed by Kleberg) from scratch. At a stage in
life when many men would have retired, Gustavo created a profitable
grassland ranch on the edge of jungle. He knew a bit about hard work,
animal husbandry, and land stewardship, but it was his abiding sense of
personal freedom, humanity, and history which set him apart.</p>
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<img border="0" src="PRC%20Mission%20Photo%20Conference%20New%20Small.jpg" width="550"></p>
<p align="right" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<i><font size="1">Agri-Energy Roundtable</font></i></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2">MISSION LEADER -- Gustavo de los
Reyes opens plenary session during three days of talks and tours in Zhengzhou, Henan Province (March 1984). </font></td>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When we climbed down off that train at Zhengzhou,
tired after a ten-hour overnight ride from Beijing, we all felt privileged
to be in his presence. When some delegates complained, Gustavo joked about
his long rides in the saddle as a cowboy in Texas. His upbeat mood and
excitement never wavered, yet he was a man of seventy years at that time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After China, we traveled together in many countries.
Doors opened at the sound of his name. Gustavo went on to lead other
timely international missions, most notably in Hungary (October 1989),
arriving in Budapest with revolution in the air on the day the crowds tore
down Lenin�s statue, and later in Poland (September 1990).</p>
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<img border="0" src="Gustavo%20meets%20Witold%20Trzechiakowski%20New%20Small.jpg" width="500" height="349"></p>
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<i><font size="1">Agri-Energy Roundtable</font></i><p>
<font size="2">FREEDOM RINGS -- Gustavo de los Reyes and Nicholas
Hollis greet Witold Trzechiakowski of Polish Agricultural Foundation
and later Minister of Justice in Poland's Solidarity Government (June
1985).</font></td>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Gustavo was proud of his horsemanship � a veteran
polo player in his youth. Yet, this was no ordinary cowboy. He was the
scion of a wealthy Cuban family with blood lines to royalty in Spain and
England. He was trilingual, educated in the United States (Georgetown
University), and trained as a doctor at the University of Havana Medical
School. In addition to cattle, he owned and operated a sugar cane
plantation and still found time to participate regularly in our non-profit
campaign to advance food security solutions through the AER network. He
was its longest serving director.</p>
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<img border="0" src="AER%20Budapest%20'89%20DC%20Recovered%20(1).jpg" width="500"></p>
<p align="right" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><i>
<font size="1">Agri-Energy Roundtable (October 1989)</font></i></p>
<p align="right" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<font size="2">ORIENT EXPRESS--AER mission delegates arrive at
Budapest from Vienna. L-R: Dr. Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, (later
Uganda vice president and special envoy to U.N. Secretary-General);
Hungarian official Lazlo Vadja; AER executive director Nicholas
Hollis; AER mission leader Gustavo de los Reyes; and Robert Ross (LAAD
Consortium).</font></td>
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<p class="MsoNormal">It is therefore particularly poignant that Gustavo
left this earth quietly earlier this week (March 17) in Miami. He had
crossed the �centurion� threshold a few months ago, dancing with the
ladies at the Riviera Club in Coral Gables surrounded by his children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At a time when freedom and human spirit are being
sorely tested in such far flung arenas as Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and
Venezuela, Gustavo�s life symbolizes a triumph of spirit and action
against overwhelming odds � a lesson providing inspiration for us all.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gustavo de los Reyes believed as the ancient Greeks
that lucky mortals were targeted and punished by jealous gods. �So I guess
I had it coming,� he would chuckle. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was truly privileged to have ridden with him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rest well, Old Road Warrior. Rest well-earned.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Posted: March 27, 2014</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Nicholas E.
Hollis, President</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">The
Agribusiness Council</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Washington DC</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Tel: (202)
296-4563</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Email:
<a href="mailto:[email protected]" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single">
[email protected]</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b>
<font size="2">SUGGESTED READINGS:</font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<font size="2">"Imprisoned by Castro" by Gustavo de los Reyes: Reader's
Digest (May 1965), pp. 114-119.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<font size="2">"Bob Kleberg: A Worldwide Sea of Grass/King Ranch" by John
Cypher, Jr.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<font size="2">"The Last Empire" by William Broyles: Texas Monthly
(October 1980).</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<font size="2">"The Great Game in Cuba: How the CIA Sabotaged Its Own Plot
to Unseat Fidel Castro" by Joan Mellen of Temple University. Skyhorse
Publishing (2013).</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<font size="2">"Cien Anos" by Gustavo de los Reyes. CreateSpace
Independent Publishing (November 2013).</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<font size="2">"The Importance of Tropical Grasslands in Relation to the
Expected Food Crisis of the World" by Gustavo de los Reyes. Agri-Energy
Roundtable Conference Proceedings (1982).</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">The
Agribusiness Council is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization affiliated
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">with Agri-Energy
Roundtable. This article may be reprinted with attribution. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center">
<a href="http://www.agribusinesscouncil.org/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single">
www.agribusinesscouncil.org</a></p>
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