Stockton Chamber of Commerce

San Joaquin Historian A Century ofService

The Greater Stockton Chamber ofCommerce

A Publication of the San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum Fall 2002 Vol XVI Number 3

The San Joaquin

Historian

Quarterly Journal of The San Joaquin County Historical Society Volume XVI New

Series Number 3 Fall 2002

Donald Walker PhD Editor

Published by the San Joaquin County

Historical Society Inc Located in

Micke Grove Regional Park PO Box 30

Lodi CA 95241-0030 (209)331-2055 (209)953-3460

Christopher Engh President Elise A Forbes Vice President

Helen Trethewey Past President Mel Wingett Finance

Lisa Dannen Publications Robert McMaster Treasurer

The Society operates the San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park under an agreement with the County of San Joaquin The Society maintains its offices at the museum

Manuscripts relating to the history of San Joaquin County or the Delta will always be considered The editor reserves the right to shorten material based on local interest and space considerations Inquiry should be made through the museum office

San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum

Michael W Bennett Director

Copyright 2002 San Joaquin County Historical Society Inc

This Issue

Each year the Society selects one pioneer enterprise that has served our county for one hundred or more years for special recognition This year we are proud to honor the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce This entire issue of the Historian is devoted to telling the story of the volunteers who shared the vision of a more prosperous Stockton and committed their time and resources toward that end In 101 years the Chamber volunteers and staff have been unwavering in their work during their Century of Service

The Authors

Michael W Bennett is the Director of the San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum He recentlv celebrated his 25th anniversary of employment with the Society amp Museum He is a past president of the California Council for the Promotion of History and LodiTokay Rotary Club and is a member of numerous professional organizations He and his wife Tracy enjoy sailing and yacht restoration camping and downhill skiing

Ute Gampp is the Administrative Manager of the San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum She has served the Society amp Museum for over 16 vears She is the editor of the Societys News amp Notes and Annual Report and is responsible for membership donor services and general office administration She and her husband Frank enJoy their foothill ranch fishing and traveL

The Cover

Base Graphic- A high elevation view of Stockton c 1957 Top left- Ralph Yardley cartoon a gift of the Stockton Record courtesy of the Haggin Museum Bottom right- Current Chamber offices in the Waterfront Warehouse on the Stockton ChanneL

Page 2

A CENTURY OF SERVICE--The Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce

On this occasion the 2002 Century Business Dinner honoring the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce the San Joaquin County Historical Society recognizes the durability and adaptability of the Chamber its members and leaders as they continue to serve the business community of the greater Stockton area The Chamber is a member of a proud fraternity of century old businesses that includes

The Lodi News-Sentinel 1992 Bank of Stockton 1993

Bekins-Pacific Storage Co 1994 The Record 1995

Guaranty Federal Bank 1996 Union Safe Deposit Bank 1997

The Tracy Press 1998 St Josephs Regional Health System 1999

On Lock Sam 2000 Childrens Home of Stockton 2001

The development of our current Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce is well documented in the newspapers of 1901 However in the process of researching a photograph of a Stockton Chamber of Commerce office taken somewhere in the range of 1896-1897 a mention of what may have been a predecessor Chamber of Commerce was found in the Wednesday January 2 1895 Evening Mail It is the only newspaper reference that was developed for several months on either side of the following excerpt The Late Chamber of Commerce was the headline The Chamber of Commerce recently organized in this city appears to be defunct To-night (sic) is the time set for its regular meeting but nobody seems to know anything about it and the meeting will not eventuate The Executive Committee of nine which was appointed never met to organize and there is no indication that it will ever assemble

On July 29 1909 columnist JM Eddy wrote in the Stockton Record Mr West was the first president of the present Chamber of Commerce He had been president of the old Chamber of Commerce and it was largely due to his efforts assisted by a few energetic co-workers that the present Chamber was organized and begun its career under such favorable auspices

Since there is photographic evidence of a Chamber of Commerce office dated between 1895 and the origination of the current Chamber of Commerce in 1901 something must have eventuated but much more time than is available now will have to be spent to uncover more on the missing link in Chamber of Commerce history

The year was 1901 It was a busy time around the world and for this bustling city and the people who made their homes and businesses at the head of navigation on the San Joaquin River The Boer War was raging Queen Victoria died and was succeeded by Albert Edward Prince of Wales Americans were fighting in the Philippines there was a revolution underway in Venezuela hazing had reached epidemic proportions at Californias universities the battle was at a full boil between butter and oleomargarine at the Livestock Association Meeting in Salt Lake City and Carrie Nation and the Womens Christian Temperance Union were knocking over saloons in the Midwest Rosenbaums Hales and IXL were the big retailers and Ow I Grocery was featuring a carload of the new Burbank Potatoes fresh from Lockeford The city was trying to deal with growing residential and business blight in the downtown area and Miss Julia Weber the daughter of Charles M Weber the founder of Stockton was moving her home out to the country

The City of Stockton has been blessed with civic and business leaders throughout its history and 1901 was no different A group of business leaders met in the Y osemi te Theater B ui Iding on San J oaqui n Street just across the street from the County Courthouse The founding officers were OB Parkinson James Barr and we Neumiller Formative meetings were held and on Friday night January 4th 1901 Mr Buell called the new Board together and temporarily acted as presiding officer Mr Fred M West was elected as the first President of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce The initial board of business leaders was impaneled The Board consisted of G L Dickensen William Steinbeck F H Kennedy we Ramsey James Harr MP Stein G W Tatterson W W Westbay and Frank A West

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A Call for Members is Issued according to the February 6th edition of the Evening Mail At least two hundred members were desired and the monthly dues were established at $100 per member By February 13tll membership had passed the 500 mark All 508 of the new members names were published

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The effort to elect the first official Board of f Directors was not a smooth undertaking The f Nominating committee prepared a ticket and soon a I committee of 50 prepared an opposition ticket I Several people on the opposition ticket were not consulted by the committee of 50 and posted their I objections at the polling place With the casting of

ACarl for Members Is Issueo-At teast Twomiddot

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Hundred ArB Desi~~o-Mont~l~ Dues fixed at One Dollar

bullbullbull ~ bull lo-ltIay at II mtClhg r ldICl( clU Inlt l In the orJlftIlI- bull bull IAlIoll of a w ehlmr of eOlllmoroe It 1ltgtltlded to publl~h t~e bull bull _panTI all ufamplIur ltllIlaA to 11laquon an areenlCOI 10 jolD Iho bull h bull IJQMU ~haber middotlId 1gt1 $1 mODlb (or one year The a or bull bull lis _D411 111 be luIlUbeltl dan 4 ~ bullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbull e

To l bullbull 111101 or Stock Ion onll SAo Joaquin Counly-Tbe erylr need or tb city ud county tMJfDt orgunlraUou wJtb v I~rgo mcmbenhip a teauy H

Inoome ud a dettrm1aaUou to ork with a vim (or tho commOQ ~ood rlrtJt S 11 and all the lime b

It 18 lUvpoftt to rtor~Jfnut thp RtOltkton ChluullCr of Comnwwe ttlonr tb( IlneR that blvtt prortl IUl raquouctMHotul tn IAgtA AMe~tI Eure-ka Dud SeatUI The ~ Ulbe~lp roe I to be doo away 1111 Tho du oro 10 Illt cuI don to one ollar per DODth An)~ OD6 tnt(lf(tMted In Ire advantfnt(Qt ot Stockton nUll nl1 JQIIlqullJ oounty Itt rUlnd~ ttl tn~mUfrshlnr With ZOO n1pmufirH plft~fAl to (on llllUO tiIlr mpmgtnhIJllio al hmiddotbullbullt~ )rar It 111 Up rgttgt1~1~ to opcure hnumiddot Sr tlulir1cN trully JucUedJLlmJWIllgtl permanent gtcWlt oLIhJl Irpllncl _ aDd manmiddotllrAttUh or the cltylLncl aU Jlartll of the count) and to pwraloy a lj(l Seirwtary wht middotm dmiddotohmiddotlt1R Cull tlruu anfi incnderaquo to th~ Int(f(gtsta of ~lty find MDnt bull bull

OppotluqlU 11 f1ally plikMlng Hlockton for li(r motf drt~ nWfl1lt~ Qmiddotbhho ~tocktur fiDel Hnn Joaqlltn (QUnt1 muat 8(~llrfi their IlbliTi of thI I lt1ILal Ilnd 1Klmfut1ou thnt Arn- coming WfatwArcl 111 )011 1EOD(t or 00 tn j put Jour buuhler to tbe beel vJedJte one dollar ptf month fOf n jrnr und wako A d(gtt~rmfnCNI r-ttorl to nlnkfamp Sockton th ntttropoHlJ ot (utnl Cullmiddot H~I

forala tt 10 ple-lUf gn thr nltnchtotl nlin~rm(tnt un rUJ[1 It to thftl ChamliN (If ~

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(114 DICKINSON Ill P fT~IN WIIlIAM IlTnNIIlrK ( W middotrATTERRON r U KENNEllY W W Wl-ST II A Y w e HAlIIilIIY ~IANK ~ WES JAWE A IIAIIR

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Stockton Evening Mail Wednesday February 6 1901

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332 votes the official ticket was elected Election ruckus not-withstanding on February 25 1901 the Stockton Chamber of Commerce filed its Letters of Incorporation and published its bylaws

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Upon the adoption of the bylaws the Board of Directors immediately went to work on the publication of a Railroad Pamphlet to become part of the Chambers exhibit at the Pan Pacific Exposition in Buffalo New York The Chamber instituted a major and sustained effort to attract new residents and businesses to Stockton The Buffalo Exhibit was shipped by steamer to San Francisco to be shipped along with the California State Exhibit to Buffalo

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The first objectives of the Chamber were to stimulate growth and to market the areas manufactured and agricultural products throughout the nation The Chamber recognized the need to improve the facilities of Californias oldest inland port and dredging of the channel to allow deeper draft shipping to carry Stocktons manufactured goods and crops to market Fifteen feet to the sea was the battle cry for the political and fund raising effort that would engage federal funds in channel improvements It took over 25 years for this determined community with Chamber leadership to realize that goal By the time of congressional approval and the passage of a $3000000 local bond support the channel specifications were 26 feet to the sea Several kinks were taken out of the river at the same time to form the Stockton deep water channel and improve flood control The first deep draft commercial vessel to ply the new channel was the Daisy Gray with a load of lumber on February 3 1934

Port of Stockton c 1963 SJHSampM Collections

Levee break just behind Hickenbotham Bros c 1958 SJHSamp M Collections

The young Chamber of Commerce was very active financing and printing brochures and maps extolling the virtues and advantages of living and working in Stockton The Chamber was joined by the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads in the promotion eff0l1 The Hotel Stockton was under construction in 1907 and completed in 1910 by Lee Phillips and some other local investors so there would be a place for visitors to stay and be entertained while they considered settling in or bringing their businesses to Stockton By 1910 Stockton could boast of having 33 hotels and 9 boarding houses and over 54 rooming houses and inns to house investors visitors and others taking their first peek at this bustling riverside town

Manufacturers were soon joined by agricultural producers as beneficiaries of the new Chamber of Commerce Packed in Stockton was the stencil produced by the Chamber and given to all produce shippers to indicate the point of origin for all of the areas fresh produce The Chamber effectively worked with the Secretary of State to prevent the imposition of duties on wheat and flour exports major crops at that time

The Stockton Chamber of Commerce had a substantial impact on the development of civic improvements to support the development of businesses homes and fami Iy life The Chamber was very active in its support for a $150000 bond effort to build the Stockton High School at Sutter and Vine The Chamber promoted street paving street lighting and an electrical generating plant flood control on the Calaveras River a city sewer system and the move of

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the College of the Pacific to Stockton where it later became the University of the Pacific

Smith Gate College of the Pacific c 1925 Holt Atherton Collection University of the Pacific

Rough and Ready Island was a - major supply Depot along with Sharpe Army Depot in Lathrop Pictured here is open storage of military vehicles and equipment ready for shipment during WWII SJCHSampM Collections

Stocktons position as a port city made it a major supplier of food and war materiel for every American war effort since the Civil War from food fiber and gold for the Union forces to food ordnance ships and other equipment for wars One Two Korea and Viet Nam Stockton Field and other smaller airfields were used to train airmen The Delta was used to train Naval and Army forces Sharpe Army Depot and Rough and Ready Island became supply and communication depots Stockton and San Joaquin County growers and businesses were major supporters of American defense efforts The Chamber and its members performed a more personal service as it hosted Gis and their leaders at special dinners and events

making Americas fighting men and OF COMURCt

women feel at home h~~R~ MJtnilwhile away from

Ul1itn-d Sotes Any Ar Corps Stoff S~~ckI~i1 Advlv--J Traimng $dwdtheir families and

friends

During the post war years the Chamber focused on jobs for returning GIs housing development and continued marketing of crops cannery products and manufactured items Increased population and housing growth precipitated some conflicts with agricultural land use For years the westerly winds had been carrying peat dust from delta fields into homes and businesses The Chamber took an active role along with the University of California Agricultural Extension Service and eight local growers in helping primarily asparagus farmers reduce the amount of airborne peat dust leaving crop lands

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Allan Carlton speaking to a group growers on of inter planting Barley and Sudan grass to control soil erosion in white asparagus beds 1959 SJHSampM Collections 6

Midget asparagus promotion by Chamber of Commerce and The California Asparagus Growers 1959 Chamber of Commerce Collection

Canned white asparagus an extremely valuable export crop required high and very light beds that were easily blown away by the prevailing winds of late spring and early summer The solution was to plant barley or Sudan grass between the beds The inter planting technique also reduced the number of crooks which increased the marketable grass that was produced The solution was very effective for about two years until China became the worlds supplier of canned white asparagus because of their exceptionally low operating costs

In addition to the deepwater channel and port improvements another project helped define the Chamber as a tenacious and hard working organization The cross town freeway and a 24 mile gap in Interstate 5 became the next big community improvement project The Freeway to Nowhere was the moniker that at least for Stocktonians described the abandoned cross town freeway The project began with the local review of plans in 1953 Construction began on the first phase between Fresno and Madison streets in 1967 and was completed in 1970 The incomplete 1-5 was considered a handicap to commerce and the lack of a cross-town connector meant that east-west traffic had to use surface streets within the city

The Federal government froze the funds to complete the project in 1970 and then Governor Jerry Brown refused to appropriate state funds for the Cross Town Freeway or the 24 mile uncompleted section of Interstate Five between Sacramento and Stockton Community sentiments were running in high gear as residents showed their displeasure by demonstrating at the dead end of the Freeway to Nowhere Residents of the area at the time will remember Senator John Garamendi riding his horse through the

gap in the incomplete Interstate 5 to demonstrate the only means of completing a journey up the Interstate highway

Governor Brown finally ceded to public pressure and approved funding for Interstate 5 The funding of the Crosstown Freeway required Assemblyman Patrick Johnston to amend a bill to place a high priority on the Crosstown Freeway and Gubernatorial Candidate George Deukmejian subsequently pledged to support and later approved the project Construction started in 1990 The Crosstown freeway was completed for 140 million dollars three times the 1970 budget and now serves over 70000 vehicles per day as the link between Highway 99 and 1-5 The Stockton Chamber of Commerce and its Past President Ort Lofthus spearheaded the effort

Stockton Jtcot~ ~n Calilurnla (lnfmiddotIda~ 1) l 197

Cam p aiglJ to FifltEO

Interstate 5 Mapped r)dl IT~tl for Vd-t y cOni- ~lht W ptr ttlt40 ~t cent be-ll~tn

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-gtt(Jal(lr (1m ampIi)hm Higti1ingk Tht dlj ~i ~ wled TUtsd~t~ oy prmg-gt ha annonr-c(1i ~ will introduCt

BiH U)f( ~~ctlej (lfY d th~ HUliJmg a olll ill the Senate 10 dll this Ganuncndi rwJ~s CHin] 1 ~nd a lncmner of the intuds to ubmi a similar bill ill the As (umy Ecmluml~ J)elt)l(~rment Agency sembIy and Perini) hassaid he wiil c(gt

iill (i lHgttmg n I~~cnmvrnan Carmen 1r ino ~ of-c th~~t vaS alied to dsuss

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Iojm (aram~n~t D-HclYelmnne H1H amp1tthcm California IcWS exCutlvlt) ~~rc(d the (foty )ikdy way to get the support iUlin iCffot 100tum up publk ur~hway cnrnrlctuI is 10 push through a upporcThh thc hopti Cil1 be Irangt till that outd lernp()rarlly niter lhc dlVlshy iaKl into~lti~e (lIes by 50Ulhem Cal ltp m It stak l1Hhwav funds betVttIl iforllla kgisltlOrs raquo

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ck ~ alhat~ll rllJ1d~ ilo left a CI how to finance Its I[IIl1 The group 2imiddotrJllC gap in ttc highway whch w(Hlld prer m bring a grollp 01 5omhshyretches [wm 11K MexkaniJordcr to the ern Calit(jfl1ia ncwslTh~n here to show I jaw dlill I border Tlte Stat( Ilighwny tillm too problem ra(h~r than go thtf C)illml~sill1 VtkJ ~u 21 to txpend [itd Mltmp$ -to di~sdhc it t~rbdHy

SliH millhm next Vear I) pal 88 lllileB Tlull ul~ltl meeting included Perino 0 il fltJtll Hamllltl [Ame llimh 10 High~ G)faJllllridifHnrry Rivlllius chairman of way C bUi lbis ~1H h)av~~ an uJ1cQm~ ~ ple1 Slreld of Ikarll is mik1 from ID Stockwn Mayors Citlzens CommiHtll Highway 12 to Lambert hoot in SotJlhern (nl 1middot5~ On I d[tbtlllnUd D 1)iltl SmjllJ Surmmemo COllnty of he Gr~attStOqlfulJi~jlL

(ollllllllrctldhtj EdMillbill of tire Imiddot As-Sute law requires higllWay funds tI) 00 ociatiOll -

Stockton Record December 3 1975 SJCHSampM

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Leadership Stockton the first Junior Achievement Program west of Denver was developed in Stockton as well as PIC employment development program CCBON a network of non-profit and community based organizations and The Stockton Chamber Apprenticeship Program And no resident of Stockton will forget the day the San Francisco 4gers came to town for their first Summer training camp

The 1960s and 1970s brought unprecedented residential and business growth to Stockton Whole neighborhoods seemed to spring up almost overnight through the efforts of developers such as the Spanos and Grupe Companies and others

One of the Chambers most widely recognized promotional activities has been Stocktons Ag Expo The Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee and area tractor and farm equipment dealers recognized the need to promote agriculture and related businesses as a balance to the Chambers already strong urban development programs

The first was a mall display in 1976 The first real expo was held at the Stockton Fair Grounds in 1976 as the Central California Agricultural Exposition It had 125 exhibitors in its first year For the first 16 years of the Expo Olive Davis was the Expo coordinator and D David Smith

Ma~~h i6t~ 976 The first Farm Show a parade down Pacific A venue to the Weberstown Mall- the beginning of Ag Expo Chamber of Commerce Collection

was the Chamber Director and Expo manager Ag Expo has enjoyed as many as 600 exhibitors but has settled down to an average of 500 per year

Olive booked exhibitors prepared press releases sold exhibit space performed planning and layout for the show and coordinated the hundreds of volunteers that have made Stockton Ag Expo the hallmark event of its type in California Both as a Chamber staff member and later as an independent contractor Olive Davis was the enduring personality that defined Ag Expo for most of its life as the single event that pulled the agricultural and business community of Central California together as a single event entity to promote Stockton and San Joaquin County businesses manufacturing food processing and agriculture She off and on shared management responsibilities with D David Smith and both stressed the critical involvement of the hundreds of volunteers who worked thousands of hours to make each Expo a success Volunteers like Jeff Hachman and Paul Sanguinetti are still carrying on with the Ag Expo volunteer tradition as volunteer leaders

Olives years of work were recognized in 1994 when she was inducted as the only living female in the San Joaquin County Agricultural Hall of Fame

The Ag Hall of Fame with 96 inductees as of 2001 began in 1986 The program now includes an annual dinner where inductees who are nominated by the community at large are installed A display of Ag Hall of Fame inductees has been maintained at the San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum since its inception The Hall of Fame Committee is in the process of developing a new interactive exhibit to replace the two dimensional panel exhibit that has served for 16 years It will be housed in the museums new Agricultural History Center that will feature the people and machines that have built San Joaquin Countys leadership in the field of agriculture

Other promotional events awards and programs that continue to build the business and agricultural community of greater Stockton included a

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Construction Trade Show from 1981- 82 and Annual service for the communities of Stockton and San Boat Shows from 1982 thru 1991 Joaquin County for over 100 years

During the 1970s and through the 1990s the Chamber actively promoted Stockton and San Joaquin County as lIt an excellent movie making location middot~Bmiddotmiddot

~~ Movie making was not new to

Stockton All or part of over 64 film productions have been shot here Steamboat Round the Bend with Will Rogers was one of the earliest The 1935 classic featured three steam boats racing on the San Joaquin River High Time with Bing Crosbyshy1960 Cool Hand Luke with Paul Newman-1967 Fat City with Stacy Keach and Jeff Bridges-1972 and Hot Shots Part Deux with Charlie Sheen and Lloyd Bridges- 1993 are just a few Stockton and San Joaquin County have often been described as Hollywood North due to the number of productions and the varied natural and man made features in high demand by Hollywood

Awards and traditional social and business networking events include the Industrial Barbeque Small Business Awards The Athena When the stars came to town the Chamber ofAward and the Annual Golf Tournament The Commerce presented them with a certificate and Chamber still gets together for its traditional hat making them honorary Commodores of the quarterly mixers to recognize new businesses and to Port of Stockton Can you name these stars

Chamber of Commerce Collection revisit the veteran businesses Ground breaking and ribbon cutting events help introduce Chamber leaders and announce new arrivals in the Chamber family The annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament is a favorite for the entire community and an excellent fund raising and networking event y Eighty-one community leaders have served as President of the Greater Stockton Chamber of ERE FROCommerce over the course of its first 100 years Each is listed in the January 2001 Special Centennial Edition of Port-O-Call From Miss Cora Wolfenbargar the first Chamber staff member to Douglass Wilhoit the current Chamber Executive from Fred M West the first president to Ronald A May current president the Chamber Board staff and volunteers have created an exemplary record of

Handbill for traveling chamber members c 1933 SJHSampM Collections

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Acknowledgments and Appreciation

Institutions Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce Renna Beinoris Mary Pennini Douglass Wilhoit

Stockton San Joaquin Public Library Reference Section

Haggin Museum Susan Benedetti Carol Pejovich

San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum Deborah Mastel

Stockton Downtown Alliance Tim Viall

Bank of Stockton Collection Kristen Greiser

Holt Atherton Collection University of the Pacific Donald Walker PhD

Individuals Telephone interview with Jack Underhill UC

Agricultural Extension Service Ret

Telephone interview with Olive Davis retired Chamber of Commerce-Ag Expo ManagerCoordi n ator

Telephone interview with D David Smith Past Ag Expo Manager and a Chamber Executive

Denis Holdren Stockton Film Historian

Telephone interview with Ron May President Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce

Publications Port-O-CaU Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce February 2001 Volume 46 No 11

Stockton Evening Mail San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum Collections

Stockton Evening Mail Microfilm Stockton San Joaquin Public Library Stockton Branch

Inter-row Planting report Compiled by Alan B Carlton and John P Underhill University of California December 1956

To agressively develop and promote an economically vibrant business community - Mission Statement Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce

Special Message from the Chamber Executive

My familys 152-year involvement in San Joaquin County and Stockton and my own activities as a peace officer member of the Board of Supervisors and now as CEO of the Chamber of Commerce gives me a unique perspective and a tremendous sense of pride and appreciation for what the people of this community have accomplished The role and responsibilities of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce would never have been met without the vision and leadership of our Boards volunteers and staff The next 100 years will likely be even more productive On behalf of our Boards volunteers and staff past and present we thank the San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum for recognizing the Chamberss service to this community for over 100 years as the 2002 Century Business Dinner Honoree

Douglass W Wilhoit Jr

ode Wqt~s e ~ 0

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GREATER STOCKTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

As we celebrate over 1 00 years of service by the members volunteers and staff of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce it seemed appropriate while on the subject of durability a product of both success and stress to share the following verse

Every struggle whether won or lost strengthens us for the

next to come

It is not good for people to have an easy life they become weak and inefficient

when they cease to struggle

Some need a series ofdefeats before developing the strength and courage to win a victory

Victorio Mimbres Apache

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Fred M West was the first president of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce He was the third president of the Stockton Savings and Loan Society and also County Treasurer from 1878-1880 He helped assure that both the Santa Fe and Western Railroads came to Stockton

Friday night January 41901800 PM Chairman West

The Chamber ought to have 250 members ought to employ a capable man at a good salary to look after the affairs of the organization and carry desirable movements through if we have 250 members with a dues of $1 each we can employ such a man Secretary Brueck didnt think much of the proposition Evening Mail January 5 1901

Fred M Westc 1900 SJCHSampM Collection

Ron May is the head of Consumer Banking for Union Safe Deposit Bank He was a Captain in the US Army and attended Oregon State and Stanford Universities He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Humphreys College

We are pleased to have broken the 250 member goal many many years ago and look forward to building our membership beyond the current 1400 we enjoy now We look forward to supporting the growth of Stockton into the next century

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Lodi News-Sentinel

first Century Business Honoree

Salutes

The Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce

eleventh Century Business Honoree

Address Correction Requested

San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum

PO Box 30 Lodi CA 95241-0030

Non- Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

The San Joaquin

Historian

Quarterly Journal of The San Joaquin County Historical Society Volume XVI New

Series Number 3 Fall 2002

Donald Walker PhD Editor

Published by the San Joaquin County

Historical Society Inc Located in

Micke Grove Regional Park PO Box 30

Lodi CA 95241-0030 (209)331-2055 (209)953-3460

Christopher Engh President Elise A Forbes Vice President

Helen Trethewey Past President Mel Wingett Finance

Lisa Dannen Publications Robert McMaster Treasurer

The Society operates the San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park under an agreement with the County of San Joaquin The Society maintains its offices at the museum

Manuscripts relating to the history of San Joaquin County or the Delta will always be considered The editor reserves the right to shorten material based on local interest and space considerations Inquiry should be made through the museum office

San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum

Michael W Bennett Director

Copyright 2002 San Joaquin County Historical Society Inc

This Issue

Each year the Society selects one pioneer enterprise that has served our county for one hundred or more years for special recognition This year we are proud to honor the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce This entire issue of the Historian is devoted to telling the story of the volunteers who shared the vision of a more prosperous Stockton and committed their time and resources toward that end In 101 years the Chamber volunteers and staff have been unwavering in their work during their Century of Service

The Authors

Michael W Bennett is the Director of the San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum He recentlv celebrated his 25th anniversary of employment with the Society amp Museum He is a past president of the California Council for the Promotion of History and LodiTokay Rotary Club and is a member of numerous professional organizations He and his wife Tracy enjoy sailing and yacht restoration camping and downhill skiing

Ute Gampp is the Administrative Manager of the San Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum She has served the Society amp Museum for over 16 vears She is the editor of the Societys News amp Notes and Annual Report and is responsible for membership donor services and general office administration She and her husband Frank enJoy their foothill ranch fishing and traveL

The Cover

Base Graphic- A high elevation view of Stockton c 1957 Top left- Ralph Yardley cartoon a gift of the Stockton Record courtesy of the Haggin Museum Bottom right- Current Chamber offices in the Waterfront Warehouse on the Stockton ChanneL

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Lodi News-Sentinel


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PO Box 30 Lodi CA 95241-0030


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Lodi News-Sentinel


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PO Box 30 Lodi CA 95241-0030


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Lodi News-Sentinel


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11

Lodi News-Sentinel


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10







11

Lodi News-Sentinel


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ode Wqt~s e ~ 0

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11

Lodi News-Sentinel


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11

Lodi News-Sentinel


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Stockton Chamber of Commerce