News Stories

October 24, 2000

Retired men and women who dedicated their careers to University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources programs will be together for a reunion at the Piccadilly Inn Airport, 5115 E. McKinley Ave., in Fresno Nov. 6-7. Some of the best-known names in agricultural science, home economics, 4-H and natural resources will reminisce about their accomplishments and give UC leaders valuable insight for the future of UC programs. The 35 retired employees who will convene in Fresno represent over 1,000 years of combined service to UC. "California remains the proud leader in non-formal education through ANR programs - due in large measure to the work and visionary commitment of retirees during their active years as members of the ANR team," said Reg Gomes, UC Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources. "We want to maintain a link with retired employees, recognize their contributions, and stay in touch." The reunion begins at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 with a lunch and opportunity to renew acquaintances. At 2:00 p.m., Gomes will greet the guests and initiate an open-forum dialogue on political, social, cultural and economic issues as they affect ANR in serving citizens of California. The afternoon features a benefits session for the retirees, more dialogue and a "Taste of California" social hour. Following dinner, UC Merced Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey will present an update and plans for the new UC Merced campus. The reunion continues on Nov. 7 with an open-forum session with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Assistant Vice President for Development Services Toby Winer. The Fresno reunion is the first of three to be held in California. The other reunions will be in San Diego Feb. 27-28, 2001, and in Chico, April 17-18, 2001. Retirees planning to attend the Fresno reunion are listed below with the title they held upon retirement: Don Appleton, county director, Tuolumne County Lupe Barajas, home advisor, Kings County Hodge Black, county director, Kern County Delores Bonander, home economist, Fresno County Todd Brown, farm advisor, Fresno County Steve Carlson, assistant statewide director, UC Davis James Cothern, agricultural economics specialist, UC Davis Bob Davis, state 4-H leader, UC Berkeley Fran Davis, home economist, Kings County Jack Dibble, entomology specialist, UC Kearney Ag Center Dorothy Duncan, state 4-H specialist, UC Berkeley Bill Fischer, farm advisor, Fresno County Bill Hambleton, regional director, UC South Central Region Ray Hasek, agronomy specialist, UC Davis Ernestine Ivans, county director, Kings County Sidney Kite, farm advisor, Kings County Curt Lynn, county director, Tulare County Don May, farm advisor, Fresno County Karl Opitz, horticulturist, UC Kearney Ag Center Mel Peters, personnel director, UC South Central Region Ralph Pfost, area farm advisor, Fresno County George Rendell, county director, Los Angeles County David Schlegel, dean and professor, UC Berkeley Bob Sheesley, county director, Fresno County Marion Stanley, farm advisor, Monterey County Les Stromberg, farm advisor, Fresno County Kent Tyler, vegetable crops specialist, UC Kearney Ag Center Ron Tyler, county director, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties Bill van Riet, farm advisor, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties John Voris, poultry specialist, UC Kearney Ag Center John Wagenknecht, 4-H advisor, Napa County Ben Waller, 4-H advisor, San Joaquin County Norma Wightman, home economist, San Luis Obispo County