Born in Evanston, Illinois he resided (with his father) in Lake Forest Illinois until 1950. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, with a BA in sociology, he also spent four years in the Navy ROTC program and received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. On July 5, 1952 he married Beverly Buck whom he met at college. As a 1st Lieutenant he left the Marine Corps to pursue the job of managing the family ranch in Knights Ferry, California. He and his new wife spent a year in San Louis Obispo and he took as many courses as he could, at Cal Poly, related to ranching to better prepare him for his new job. He and his wife arrived at the Rancheria Del Rio Estanislaus in June of 1954 and resided there for the rest of his life.
He served for twelve years on the Knights Ferry School Board, was the recipient of the Oakdale Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award 2005 and was honored by the Oakdale Cowboy Museum 2011. He was a charter member of both the Oakdale Rotary Club and Oakdale Country Club, a founding director of the Oakdale Cowboy Museum, a founding director of the Oak Valley Community Bank, member of the National and California Cattleman’s Associations, a member of the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce 56 years, and a Lifetime member of the Chamber Ambassadors. He especially enjoyed the trips to Maui with his three children.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly, of 64 years, his son Robert and wife Eska (Knights Ferry CA), daughter Leslie (Portland, OR), and granddaughter Nicole (Knights Ferry), granddaughter-in-law UB (Emeryville, CA), and grandson Alexander. Remembrances may be made to Oakdale Rotary Club or Rotary International. An open house celebration of his life is scheduled for Saturday, November 26, 2016 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
Oct. 19, 2016