[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO DAVID L. NICHOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2010

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary 
life and work of my mentor, teacher, and dear friend David Nichols who 
passed away at the age of 81 on March 11, 2010. David is survived by 
his four beautiful children . . . Mark of Oregon, Paul of Hillsborough, 
Beth DeGolia of Alamo, Stu of Los Altos, his beloved seven 
grandchildren, his daughter-in-laws and son-in-law. His beloved wife 
Edie preceded him in death.
  David Nichols was born in Turlock, California and received his 
Bachelor of Science and Master's Degree in Business Administration at 
the University of California at Berkeley. David was the captain of the 
varsity basketball team at the university and it was also where he met 
the love of his life and future wife, Edith (Edie) McEwing who was then 
the Student Body Vice President.
  When he graduated from Cal, David took his first job in Contra Costa 
County as an Assistant Administrative Analyst. This position was 
followed by a 35 year career of distinguished public service that 
shaped the lives of residents of Sonoma and San Mateo Counties. In 
1955, David went to Sonoma County as an Assistant County Administrator, 
and in 1968, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors appointed him Chief 
Administrative Officer. In January 1977, David became the County 
Manager of San Mateo County where he remained until his retirement in 
1989. There was a point in time when David, as San Mateo County's 
Manager and his son Paul worked in the same building as a Deputy 
District Attorney. His son mentioned that even though they worked in 
the same building they would rarely go out to lunch because David would 
instead have lunch at home with Edie.
  Throughout his distinguished tenure in county government, David was 
involved in a number of professional organizations, regional 
governments and regulatory bodies. They include the Association of Bay 
Area Governments, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, 
California Coastal Commission, Bay Vision 2020 Commission and the 
National Association of County Administrators, where he served as 
President in 1977. While he was actively participating in all these 
organizations, David remained a staunch supporter of the University of 
California Alumni Association and the Bear Backers who support athletic 
programs. Beside his family, Cal was without a doubt, the other great 
of his life.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me 
in honoring the life of David Nichols and that we express our deepest 
condolences to the Nichols family on their loss. I am especially 
blessed to have had him as a mentor, a teacher, and friend during the 
many years I served on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, with 
David as County Manager. David Nichols had a deeply held regard for 
public service. He treated all employees with respect and made sure 
those who worked with him were always faithful in the execution of the 
public trust. He lifted all of us to a higher standard and it was his 
unquestioned integrity that established a `gold standard' in everything 
we did in service to the people we represented. We are indeed a better 
country and a better people because of David Nichols and his 
extraordinary legacy of public service, as well as a life with values. 
America was blessed to have him as a son and a servant of the people.

                          ____________________