Gladys Brock

Community Service

Gladys Brock, along with Hall of Fame member Mabel Brocchini, was the heart and soul of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce and the Manteca business community from 1950—1980.

Gladys served as manager of the Chamber from 1956-1963 and again from 1965-1985. During her long tenure as Chamber manager, she was instrumental in starting the ag luncheon and lecture, ag tour, chamber of commerce installation dinner, Miss Manteca pageant, Christmas parade, July 4th celebration and fireworks, ribbon cutting ceremonies, Manteca day at the County Fair, weekly business coffee hours, "operation Christmas" (convoy from Manteca to San Francisco with gifts for our servicemen), worked on the committee for the development of the Industrial Park, Chamber of Commerce membership drives, merchant’s alert, started the Downtown merchants committee, supervised construction of the ag booth at the San Joaquin County Fair, arranged sidewalk sales, organized the annual Christmas Fair, and participated on the Highway 120 Bypass Committee.

In 1996, the Chamber of Commerce instituted the "Gladys Brock Chamber Service Award." This award is given annually to the person who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to the city of Manteca.