Georgesen, Arthur C.

Arthur C. Georgesen, born in Waushara County, Wisconsin, in 1888, was the tenth of fourteen children and the only member of his family to relocate to California. Arriving in Fresno County in 1910, he immediately immersed himself in the regional raisin industry to seek new opportunities. Through dedicated application, he acquired a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of every phase of viticulture, quickly establishing himself as a rising and capable young manager.

His agricultural expertise was demonstrated through his successful management of the massive 520-acre Madison Vineyard, which yielded impressive averages of table and raisin grapes. When new associates purchased the property in April 1919 and renamed it the Sun Maid Ranch, Georgesen’s valuable leadership prompted the new owners to retain his services. Personally, he is married to May Deman, with whom he shares a daughter named Dorothy, and he remains active in the local community as a member of the Knights of Pythias.