Hronis Inc.'s Peter Galvan dead at 69
by | December 06, 2010
Peter (Pete) Galvan, a sales representative at Hronis Inc. in Delano, CA, died
Nov. 4 following a short illness. More than 300 family members and friends
attended his services in Bakersfield, CA, to pay their respects and tributes to a
man with a distinguished career in produce. He was 69.
A testimony to his client base and the way he conducted business, friends
made during Mr. Galvan's 46 years in agriculture generally were clients and
associates, and "were really more like family," according to his son, Louie
Galvan, managing partner of Delano-based Fruit Royale, where his other son,
John, is also a partner. Peter Galvan stayed in touch and became friends with
his associates and clients from the beginning of his career.
Born Aug. 26, 1941, in Mesa, AZ, Mr. Galvan began his produce career in
Nogales, AZ, after serving four years in the United States Air Force.
He moved to California’s Central Valley in 1985 when he went to work for
Superior Farms. He then moved to Gerawan Farming in the Sanger, CA, area
and then to Delano to work with Stevco Inc.
Louie Galvan said that his father went to work about eight years ago for
Hronis Inc., a position his dad referred to as his “crown champion” — his
favorite position in his produce career. He loved his job and the people with
whom he worked.
Pete Hronis, vice president of sales for family-owned Hronis Inc., said that he
and Pete Galvan had an ongoing challenge to see who could arrive at work
first on any given morning. The challenge lasted throughout their association
and served as a testimony to Mr. Galvan’s love for his work.
“While most people work to live,” Pete Hronis said, “Pete loved produce so
much, he really lived to work.”
An example of Mr. Galvan’s friendly business acumen was given by Tom Law,
vice president of sales at Tom Lange Inc. in Pittsburgh and a Hronis Inc.
client, who dealt with Mr. Galvan. “We developed a great friendship,” Mr. Law
said. “He was a great guy, always good to his word.” They would talk about
family and play a round of golf whenever possible. “Pete was one of the few
people in the industry like that. We became really close.
“Pete was always cheery and happy,” Mr. Law continued. “In all the years we’ve
done business together, I don’t think we ever had a conflict. Never got to the
point we had to resolve anything. We were always fair with each other — he
told me what he had, I told him what I could book. When there was a
problem, it wasn’t an issue. Instead of everybody trying to outmaneuver
everyone, which can be a problem in this industry, I never had a situation like
that with Pete.”
“Forty-six years in one capacity — produce,” said his son Louie Galvan. He
“lived and breathed produce.”
When he got ill, about a month before he died, Mr. Galvan often expressed his
concerns about how soon he could get back to work. “Most of us would be
concerned when we could play the next round of golf, but Pops was more
interested in getting a chance to sell oranges or grapes, depending on the
season,” Louie Galvan said.
As for golf, “Pops was hard to beat,” Louie said. “We golfed most Sundays,
depending on the weather. John and I would have to pony up at the end of the
day, but that didn’t keep us from going back the next week.” Mr. Galvan also
spent quality time with his sons at lunch most workdays, year round,
discussing family, friends and offering guidance from his produce experience.
Mr. Galvan is survived by his wife, Lupita, and additional family members,
including five children, 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.