James G. Boswell II
Encyclopedia
James G. Boswell II was the head of J. G. Boswell Company, a company that Boswell built from a large family-held cotton farm into an agribusiness giant.
Boswell inherited the company from his uncle James Griffin Boswell
as a 29-year old in the early 1960s. Boswell grew the acreage more than three times to a peak of more than 200000 acres (809.4 km²). In addition to increasing the size, Boswell focused on developing more productive cultivar
s and other technological advances to increase output and efficiency. Among his innovations was using lasers to level fields, resulting in more efficient water use.
Boswell used the company's influence to successfully lobby for advantageous land and water policies in the state, including the construction of the Pine Flat Dam
. The dam stemmed water flow to Tulare Lake
, the now dry bed of which is a central part of the company's land.
After a stint in the Army
during World War II
, Boswell attended Stanford University
, earning a degree in economics. During his career he sat on various corporate boards, including that of General Electric
.
Boswell inherited the company from his uncle James Griffin Boswell
James Griffin Boswell
James Griffin Boswell , was founder of the J. G. Boswell Company, known today as the world's largest privately owned farm. Primary crops include Pima cotton, alfalfa hay, tomatoes, onions, and wheat, all cultivated on some mostly in Kings County, California...
as a 29-year old in the early 1960s. Boswell grew the acreage more than three times to a peak of more than 200000 acres (809.4 km²). In addition to increasing the size, Boswell focused on developing more productive cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s and other technological advances to increase output and efficiency. Among his innovations was using lasers to level fields, resulting in more efficient water use.
Boswell used the company's influence to successfully lobby for advantageous land and water policies in the state, including the construction of the Pine Flat Dam
Pine Flat Dam
Pine Flat Dam is on the Kings River in the San Joaquin Valley, near Piedra in Fresno County, California, and forms Pine Flat Lake. It is a concrete gravity dam. The dam is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Construction of the dam began in 1949 and was completed in 1954...
. The dam stemmed water flow to Tulare Lake
Tulare Lake
Tulare Lake, named Laguna de Tache by the Spanish, is a fresh-water dry lake with residual wetlands and marshes in southern San Joaquin Valley, California...
, the now dry bed of which is a central part of the company's land.
After a stint in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Boswell attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, earning a degree in economics. During his career he sat on various corporate boards, including that of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
.