[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 27, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SAN RAMON'S FIRE CHIEF

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERRY McNERNEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 2010

  Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I am honored to take this opportunity to 
commemorate the life of William Joseph Fereira. Bill Fereira was born 
in 1921 and grew up in San Ramon, California when the city was 
inhabited by fewer than 100 people. His father was San Ramon's first 
postmaster, and his family owned a general store. Bill attended San 
Ramon Grammar School and San Ramon Valley High School, and went on to 
join the U.S. Navy. Bill served his country with honor in the South 
Pacific during World War II and was involved in the historic Doolittle 
Raid. After the war, Bill returned to California and started a family 
in nearby Danville.
  As the area grew, Bill and his neighbors realized that their 
community required greater firefighting resources. With the help of 
Howard Weidemann, a local rancher, Bill established the San Ramon Fire 
Protection District and became San Ramon's first Fire Chief. Operations 
were run out of his garage, where Bill was in charge of answering calls 
24 hours a day and maintaining a fire truck and jeep.
  Upon retiring after serving 15 years as Fire Chief, Bill stayed 
active by fixing up anything that needed repairing, expanding his 
aviation memorabilia, and sharing his knowledge of local lore with the 
community. Bill was crucial to the development of San Ramon as it grew 
into the fine city it is today. We all mourn Bill's passing and 
recognize his tremendous contribution to our community.

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