John McFall

Government

John Joseph McFall was born in Buffalo, NY, on Feb. 20, 1918. On May 20, 1918 (three days before Manteca was incorporated), he moved to the city that Joshua Cowell helped found.

The 1934 Manteca High graduate went on to earn a poltical science and law degrees at the University of California at Berkeley.

He was mayor of Manteca shortly after completing World War II service with the Army’s Security Intelligence Corps.

McFall was elected to the California Assembly in 1951 and served in the legislature until 1956 when he gained election to the U.S. Congress. McFall was appointed floor whip to the Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill, in 1971, and served as majority whip from January 1973 to January 1978.

McFall was chairman for eight years of the powerful transportation subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. He also served on the Defense Sub-Committee where he was instrumental in preventing the closure of Sharpe Army Depot by securing the $100 million automated ware house for the facility.