George Biddle
February 10, 1919 – August 31, 2015
George Biddle, born to Royce and Hulda Biddle on February 10, 1919, passed away Monday, August 31, 2015. George was born in a two-room log cabin on his parents homesteaded ranch and lived his early years with his family near Glasgow, Montana, in primitive frontier conditions.
George attended Montana State College where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management. He attended Officers Candidate School and Chinese Language School. George was in World War II and the Korean War where he served in the Army’s elite Intelligence Services. His rank was First Lieutenant.
George taught for ten years at Modesto Junior College before going into the egg production and marketing business. He served as president of the faculty club at Modesto Junior College and was president of the Greater Modesto Kiwanis Club. As a Farm Bureau Member and a member of the agriculture committee of the chamber of commerce he was a leader in getting Farm City Week adopted by the City of Modesto where the event is now celebrated as the Harvest Festival. George was the first chairman of the Good Egg Breakfast which is now an annual affair in the City of Modesto.
As an innovator, he designed the “All-In-All-Out” system of poultry ranching, separating the baby chicks from the pullets and from the laying hens. This technique saved the lives of millions of baby chicks by protecting them from diseases which led to enhanced productivity. These methods, pioneered by George Biddle, are in worldwide use today and are a part of his unsung legacy.
George served as Chairman of the Board of Nulaid Foods. He served as president of the California Egg Marketing Board, the Pacific Egg and Poultry Assn., and President of the National American Egg Board, a national egg advertising association. There he was chairman of the committee that selected the motto, “The Incredible Edible Egg”.
George was in egg production where he was one of the founders of Sun Valley Farms, a partnership which produced, processed, marketed, and sold eggs to Lucky Stores in Northern California and throughout the west. Sun Valley Farms owned over a million laying hens and was once ranked 37th largest farming corporation in California.
His outside passions included hunting, fishing, and being with family.
Preceding George in death is his father, Royce Edgar, his mother, Hulda, his brother, Vernon (family’s war hero), and his sister, Ester. George is survived by his three children; Royce James Biddle, Michael Biddle, and Mary Marino. Four grandchildren; Michael Biddle, Garrick Biddle, David Marino, and Audra McKissen. Two great grandchildren Ty and Kyle McKissen.
Franklin & Downs Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Biddle Family. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 10 A.M. at Franklin & Downs McHenry Chapel, 1050 McHenry Avenue in Modesto. A graveside service will directly follow at St Stanislaus Cemetery.