Charles Halford

Government

Charles (Charlie) Halford has lived in the greater Manteca/Lathrop area all his life and has been involved with various community activities that have supplied valuable programs to our residents young and old.

Charlie is a 1972 graduate of East Union High School; he received a BA degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Sacramento in 1976. He is a 1977 graduate of the Police Academy and graduated in 1991 from the FBI Academy. He has also worked up the ranks through the Manteca Police Department until he was promoted to Chief of Police in 1997.

Time is very valuable for Charlie, but he is more than generous in his volunteer capacity. He has served or is still serving as a member of the following Board of Directors: Boys & Girls Clubs of Manteca/Lathrop (served as President); United Way of San Joaquin County (served as President); Doctors Hospital of Manteca; Give Every Child A Chance; and is a member of the Manteca Rotary. Charlie has also served on several committees.

Charlie received the following awards and recognitions:

• June 1982 - Letter of Commendation regarding armed robbery;
• Oct. 1982 - Certified Marksman by USMC;
• Oct. 1983 - Metorious Service Award from Police Dept. for rescuing 2 children in a fire;
• 1984 - Police Officer of the Year (Manteca Rotary);
• 1997 - MUSD commendation regarding flood.

Charlie has one son, his name is Nathaniel.

Dorothy Mulvihill

Arts

Dorothy became interested in acting white attending elementary school in Lodi. She has been involved in theater in one form or another ever since.

Dorothy and her husband Edward moved to Manteca in 1968 and became the drama teacher at Manteca High School. She stayed at Manteca High School until she retired in 1995. That same year her beloved classroom was named the DOROTHY MULVIHILL THEATER, a crowning achievement to an outstanding educator.

She has received numerous awards and recognitions to her contributions to the arts:

• 1989 California Educator of the Year - Theatrical area - the School Board Association.

• 1989 Woman of the Year - Girt Scouts of America.

• 1992 outstanding Contribution to Youth - San Joaquín justice Comm.

• 1995 Golden Apple Award - San Joaquín Board of Education.

• 2002-2003 "Willie" Award for lifetime achievement. - Stockton Civic Theater.

Dorothy (Mother Mulvihill) has influenced many young students during her twenty-seven years at Manteca High School and continues to do so even today Dorothy is still involved heavily in the Stockton Civic Theater, both in front of and behind the curtain.

Dorothy and her husband Edward have three children: LT. Col. Patrick Mulvihill, Sandy, and Deanna Mulvihill.

Ed Larimer

Community Service

One of Manteca''s native sons, Ed Larimer attended local schools, graduating from Manteca High School in 1964. While in high school he was active in Boy Scouts and earned the prestigious Eagle Scout rank. This led to an adult interest in Scouting, later serving as District Chairman and receiving numerous awards.

As a high school student, Ed swept floors and performed odd jobs at a local pharmacy. After high school graduation, he attended the University of the Pacific and graduated as a pharmacist. Balancing a career in pharmacy with a wife and four children, Ed became active in setting up the in-patient pharmacy at Doctors Hospital Manteca. He also worked with UOP pharmacy students and served on the first Drug Utilization Board in the nation. He is a member of the county, state and national pharmaceutical groups.

Ed’s interest in the community has manifested itself in 4-H Club, Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters, and Crimestoppers activities. He is a 30-year member of the Manteca Lions Club, where he is a past president and served on Lions committees, such as the Pumpkin Faire, Christmas Parade, dinners, and recognitions.

Not forgetting his own four children, Ed was involved in soccer leagues and East Union High School Band Boosters.

Few individuals can juggle a successful career with family responsibilities and still find time to devote countless hours to community service.

James H. Garvine Sr.

Athletics

A native of, Pennsylvania, James Harold Garvine Sr. first arrived in Manteca in 1925 at the age of 27 to work at the Kraft Cheese plant. After work, he began coaching the firm’s softball team.

Leaving the Area for several years, he returned to Manteca in 1937 and, for the next 29 years, spent Countless hours organizing and coaching various baseball and softball teams in the community.

Mr. Garvine, as everyone called him, directed the first recreation type baseball league for boys aged 12 and under, playing at what is now Library Park. Among his other accomplishments were: reviving American Legion Baseball in Manteca, pressuring state Babe Ruth Baseball officials to bring that sanctioned program to the town, and coaching an adult softball team in his "spare time". Amazingly, all this was done after he had finished delivering milk for a local dairy.

A quiet man, he could regularly be seen at the City Ball Park or Manteca High School grooming and marking the playing field. Summer time saw him driving his milk van around town on game days, collecting his ball players - as many as 16 at a time. Hardly anyone knew that he occasionally bought gloves for those players who could not afford that equipment. He passed away in the early morning hours of December 19, 1966. while on his daily milk delivery route.

A recipient of many honors, this unassuming man was truly Manteca''s "Mr Baseball".

Marilyn Knight

Health Care

Marilyn Knight began her nursing career in 1960. working part time while her children were young. In 1965, while working as a Critical Care Nurse, she attained her National Critical Care Certification (CCRN). The next 30 years she served as the Critical Care Director for Doctors Hospital in Manteca, where she was instrumental in the designing, staffing, and opening of the new ICU/CCE, ER, and Telemetry units. With all the demands of her position, Marilyn still found time to volunteer her services to the families of terminally ill patients.

The example Marilyn set for her co-workers and women in general is outstanding. Besides her busy schedule, she has managed to be a Girl Scout Leader and Cub Scout Mother. After 25 years of taking in a foreign Exchange student, she still remains the "substitute mom" and keeps in close contact with her student. She currently conducts classes with her husband in Marriage Preparation for engaged couples.

Marilyn has received many awards for her tireless devotion to the community. Recipient of the J. C. Penny''s Golden Rule Award, the Pope Pius X Award for 10 years of religious education, for youth, and the 2006 Soroptimist Women of Distïnction Award for her 23 years of volunteer work with Hospice of San Joaquin, are but three of these awards. She has served as the president of the first Parish Council at St. Anthony''s Church in Manteca, and is a member of the Committee of Consolation, at St. Anthony''s. She is an active member of St. Vincent de Paul in service to the needy.

Besides working part time for Hospice of San Joaquin, Marilyn teaches classes at Doctors Hospital of Manteca. She states her greatest achievements are what she has accomplished at Doctor’s Hospital, and in providing system management and pain control for her hospice patients. She has been married to her husband Damon for 45 years, has three children, and five grandchildren.

Marilyn Knight has truly been an inspiration and outstanding role model for others in the field of health care and continues to make a difference in the lives of others.

Richard Richina

Agriculture

Richard R. Richina began teaching at Manteca High School in the fall of 1953. As a new instructor in the Agriculture Department he had many fresh ideas. In his first year of teaching his Milk Judging Teams won the State Milking Judging Team Contest with teams placing 1st and 2nd. His 1st place team went on to compete in the National Milk Judging Team Contest in Iowa. He also coached other judging teams including meat, vegetables, parliamentary procedure, and livestock judging in beef, sheep, swine and dairy.

In 1954 he started the Young Farmer Program where he participated on Saturdays with his students and local young farmers in the building of trailers and other farm implements. They would in turn help teach Manteca High School Ag students farming skills which could not be taught in the classroom. He encouraged local tractor dealers to donate equipment to help students learn to operate and maintain. To help raise money for his department his students would hold concessions at football games, and he initiated the FFA Cioppino Dinner, a successful fundraiser for many years at MHS.

In 1957 he started the recreational programs of FFA Barn Dance, which included an FFA Sweetheart, FFFA-FHA Barbecue, FFA-FHA Potluck, skating parties, snow trips, Donkey Basketball, and the Parent-Son Banquet every year in May. Rick realized the importance of not only the academic and agriculture achievements, but the all-around personal growth as well. Other endeavors included many fair booths at the San Joaquin County Fairs, writing the grant for the MUSD School Farm, plans and construction for the MHS greenhouse. He had many students that were selected as State FFA Officers and many others who went on to become very successful in many fields, especially agriculture.

It is very evident that Richard Richina has had a dramatic effect upon numerous students who have in turn had a great impact upon the community of Manteca.

Ronald L. Cheek

Business

Ronald Leo Cheek came to Manteca in August of 1975 when he accepted an appointment as the City''s Director of Public Works. He has been a resident of Manteca ever since. Ron was born in Exeter, California. He attended California State University, Fresno where he received a BSCE degree. Ron is a registered engineer and certified planner, and for the past 21 years has owned and operated RLC Associates, a real estate and development consulting firm. As a truly locally owned and operated company, its owners and employees live within the City limits and have a genuinely vested interest in the quality of life in our community.

Ron continues his community involvement by serving on the City of Manteca Building Board of Appeals, and as Chairman for the Manteca Unified School District Measure M Oversight Committee. In the past, he was a member of the Citizens Committee on Storm Drain Issues, the Residential Design Guideline Committee, an alternate to the General Plan Update Committee, provided technical assistance to the Vision 2020 Committee, and served on the Manteca Planning Commission from 1983-85. He was Chairman of the Planning Commission in 1984.

Ron and his wife, Charlotte, have raised 3 children in Manteca. During this child-rearing period, he served as Boy Scouts Troop 434 Committee Chairman, the East Union Band Review Committee, the East Union Band Boosters, the East Union High School Sober Grad Committee, and assisted the East Union High School "Spirit Leaders" as their "gopher" when travel, fundraising, and chaperoning needs arose over a 7-year period.

Ron Cheek''s character, integrity and commitment to community, reflected through his vocation, have made him a worthy member of the Hall of Fame''s 2006 inductees.

Ronald N. Howe

At Large

Ronald N. Howe has been a member of the Manteca community since before he was born. He is a descendent of the Overshiner Pioneer Family, which was one of the first families coming to California in the 1850''s. J.J. Overshiner built the first store building in Manteca in 1901.

Ron grew up in the Salinas area, graduating from Salinas High School in 1951. He was brought to Manteca, eventually, and became a long-time member of this community through his employment with Best; Occidental Chemical Co; J.R. Simplot. He spent 27 years working for those companies before retiring in 1997 after serving in a number of areas.

It is not surprising, coming from a family with a rich history of our area that Ron strives to continue the memory of our local history through his involvement with the Manteca Histoncal Society and Museum.

Ron’s Historical Society achievements include:
• Charter member of the Manteca Historical Society;
• First Treasurer of the Manteca Historical Society;
• Continuous service on the Society’s Board since 1990;
• Past Society President (served 7 consecutive years);
• Co-Leader of the "Tuesday Crew" which designs Museum displays;
• Chairs or Co.Chairs two major fund-raisers annually;
• Frequent speaker to local groups and neighboring communities; and
• Museum Docent.

His Community Achievements include:
• Board Member of the Manteca Murai Society;
• Manteca Convention and Visitors Bureau Committee Member;
• Assisted with organizing the Annual Ag Tour for 27 years:
• Designed the booth for Chiidren''s Art in the Park;
• Participation in floats for the Fourth of July and Christmas Parades; and
• Assists residents in keeping medical appointments.

Ron has been the backbone for these important community functions. He is truly one of the unsung heroes that make a community great. Because of his selfless service, Ronald N. Howe deserves our recognition as a member of the list of 2006 Manteca Hall of Fame Inductees.