Alan Teague

Alan Teague: Santa Paula was always
top priority for late Limoneira Chairman

September 17, 2014
Santa Paula News

He was many things to many people but to Alan Teague people were all alike, equally likable and treated with the same respect no matter if they toiled in the fields of Limoneira or sat at the head tables of global conferences.

Alan, a gentleman, rancher, artist, horseman, lover of the land and community as well as Chairman of the Board of the Directors of Limoneira Co., passed Thursday, September 11, 2014 at Ventura County Medical Center.

Alan, whose health had declined in recent years, had suffered a severe stroke; he was 76 years old.

“He touched so many different groups in so many different times in his life,” said Limoneira President/CEO Harold Edwards, who had known Alan since he was a boy. “Just about everyone who knew him was his friend.”

Alan and Harold’s late father, Dr. Sam Edwards who passed earlier this year, were longtime friends who merged their ranch land holdings.

Harold said the “thing Alan was so proud of was his community,” where he was born and grew up with times spent in Washington DC where his father, Charles Teague, served in Congress.

Alan’s family had been early pioneers of the area as well as the citrus industry; his grandfather C.C. Teague had been a founder of Sunkist. 

Harold said Alan worked hard “At the governance level to change the mindset to get Limoneira,” recognized as a global company and world leader in the citrus industry.

“From the day I first met with him he was very adamant that is where he wanted the company to go... “

Alan also believed that community progress included development of East Area 1 and East Area 2; his family had co-owned the Teague McKevett Ranch now slated for the residential portion of the planned development since 1908.

A sharp businessman Alan was supportive of management and was careful that Limoneira was taken care of.

Said Harold, “I really think he felt he could go, the succession was in place and the company was being well run; he was proud of his two sons,” Alex and Charles, “the work they do professionally and in the community and their families.”

Alan’s spirit as well as that of Dr. Sam “Are alive and will be for generations and I think they are very proud of their footprints in the sand,” of community and company.

“He was always there, always,” Alex, Limoneira’s COO, said of his father. 

“It didn’t matter what the occasion,” or circumstances, “he was always there for us... and for the community for that matter. He was the community. You could speak to him for only about 10 or 20 minutes and you got exactly his feelings for this town... which he never left. He always felt Santa Paula was the best place in the world,” and since the late 1960s, when he was barely 30 years old, he had already started to plan for east side development.

Alex said although his father was a City Councilman and Mayor, “What he was gung-ho on was the community... “

He had an innate good nature, great sense of humor, was a lover of movies and had a natural curiosity about others, all others no matter their walk of life.

“Who people were didn’t matter to him at all, he loved people... then Santa Paula and the Rams... Chuck and I were in there somewhere too,” joked Alex.

“He was our best friend, always there for us and for people, he really believed in people and how if you did things you would keep moving forward.”

Although a people person Alan had at least one solitary hobby: art.

He was an acclaimed artist whom Alex said started with oils but later mostly concentrated on works done in pen and ink.

A devoted horseman and avid about the legacy of the West, many of Alan’s works reflected his interests but he also was noted for his caricatures, a natural outgrowth said Alex of his interest in people.

“He had that great talent of looking deeply at people and seeing people,” that “he brought out in his art... “

With all his accomplishments Alan was always a modest man: “I bet you wouldn’t get in a second question without him asking you a question. He would never talk about himself but he could remember details of people,” employing his “amazing, incredible memory for people,” and their lives.

“We’re all going to miss him,” said Alex. “Nobody was a more positive driver for the City of Santa Paula than Alan Teague... he was the best!”

Alan attended Ojai Valley School and the University of Arizona where he studied business administration.

He was active in political and civic organizations including serving on the Santa Paula City Council (1966 to 1974) and as Mayor (1970 to 1974). The founding chairman of Santa Clara Valley Agriculture Development Corp., Ventura County Community Foundation and Santa Paula Community Fund, Alan was formerly President of Rancheros Visitadores, and former chairman of Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation.

In addition, Alan, also co-owned Murray-Teague Associates, had served as Director of Blue Shield of California, State Chamber of Commerce and Ventura County Visiting Nurses Association; he had also been a Director and Chairman of Ventura County Republican Committee and the Ventura County Taxpayers Association. 

“And,” said Alex, “he was a devoted Cleveland/Los Angeles/Anaheim/St. Louis Rams’ fan!”

Alan had served as a director of the Limoneira Co. since 1990 and was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2004; he previously had been Chairman from 1988 to 1996. At the time of his passing Alan was president of California Orchard Co., a director of Ventura County Fruit Exchange and Salinas Land Company, and trustee of the Limoneira Foundation. 

Alan had been employed by Teague-McKevett Company and the McKevett Corporation since 1961, holding various positions, and was president of both firms from 1984 until the 1995 merger with Limoneira. 

He is survived by sons Alex and Charles (Laura), as well as grandchildren, Shawn (Marisol), and great grandson Desmond, Sabrina (Justin), Alison and Caitlyn. His longtime companion Helen Hengehold and a worldwide community of friends from all walks of life also survive Alan.





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