[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 157 (Friday, December 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO MAYOR WILLIAM ROBERT HOLCOMB

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 3, 2010

  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I join today with my colleague Jerry Lewis 
to pay tribute to an outstanding leader, family man and civil servant, 
former San Bernardino Mayor William Robert Holcomb. Mayor Holcomb 
passed away at the age of 88 on November 29, 2010.
  Bob Holcomb was born on March 1, 1922 in San Bernardino, California, 
and dedicated his life to his home town. He was a passionate advocate 
for the city, and is well remembered as the champion who preserved the 
local water supply.
  The Holcomb family has deep roots in San Bernardino County. William 
F. Holcomb, Bob's great-grandfather, was a pioneer who discovered gold 
in the 19th century and led a gold rush in the San Bernardino 
Mountains. His father, Grant Holcomb, served as the city mayor from 
1925 thru 1927.
  Bob Holcomb graduated from San Bernardino High School, and later 
received a law degree from the Hastings College of Law at the 
University of California-Berkeley. He interrupted his studies during 
World War II to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps. As a co-pilot, he 
flew bombing missions from England to Germany.
  A practicing lawyer for 14 years, Bob began his political career by 
winning the fight to maintain San Bernardino's water independence. The 
giant Metropolitan Water District of Los Angeles made a concerted 
effort to take control of the extensive groundwater basin under San 
Bernardino. Holcomb led the campaign against the plan, and voters 
ultimately decided to retain the San Bernardino Municipal Water 
District, which protects the local water supply to this day.
  As a result of his leadership, Holcomb was appointed as a city water 
commissioner, and served in that role until his first election as Mayor 
in 1970.
  Considered one of the most dynamic mayor's in the city's history, Bob 
Holcomb is credited with luring both the Little League Western 
Headquarters and a California State University campus to San 
Bernardino. His administration saw the founding of the Norman Feldheym 
library and a new City Hall. He was instrumental in the creation of the 
regional transportation agency, Omnitrans.
  Over three decades, Bob continued the family tradition of public 
service with a career as Mayor from 1971 until 1985, and another term 
from 1989 through 1993. With 18 years, Bob is the city's longest-
serving mayor.
  He was recognized for both his international interests and a passion 
for civil rights. He helped create a sister-city partnership with 
Tachikawa, Japan that has lasted for 51 years. And he was a strong 
supporter of desegregation of San Bernardino schools. He was also the 
first elected official in the area to support Tom Bradley, the first 
African American to run for California governor.
  As a family man, Bob shared 64 years with his wife and partner Penny. 
They had four children--Jay, who passed away in 1977, as well as 
daughter Terri Lee Holcomb-Halstead, and sons William Holcomb and 
Robert Holcomb.
  On a personal note, I always appreciated Bob's friendship and his 
support of local athletic teams. I remember one specific incident 
during his tenure as mayor, when our softball field was too wet to play 
on due to rain. Bob had seen how hard our team had worked to get where 
it was, and wanted to make sure that the game was played--so he brought 
in helicopters to dry the fields, and the game went off without a 
hitch. That story exemplifies the type of man that Bob was.
  Madam Speaker, Congressman Lewis and I ask our colleagues to join us 
in remembering a superb citizen and great community leader. My wife 
Barbara and I, and Jerry and his wife Arlene, will greatly miss the man 
who will always be known as Mayor Holcomb, and we extend our sincere 
condolences to Penny and his extended family.

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