[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 144 (Monday, December 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING MAYOR WILLIE W. WEATHERFORD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 1, 2014

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Mayor 
Willie W. Weatherford of Manteca on his retirement and to personally 
thank him for his dedicated, life-long spirit of community service.
  Mr. Weatherford started his career in public service as a Manteca 
city police officer in 1966. He was promoted to Police Sergeant in 1971 
and seven years later to Police Captain. He was named Police Chief and 
City Manager for the City of Galt in 1983 but found he was missing 
``the family city''. The Weatherford's made the move back to Manteca 
after a few years, and Willie took the helm as Police Chief until he 
retired in 1994.
  Not one for retirement, Mr. Weatherford ran a successful campaign for 
a seat on the Manteca City Council just two years later. He was elected 
Mayor in 2002 and is currently completing his third term in office.
  Notable projects completed during Mayor Weatherford's tenure include: 
conversion of an abandoned sugar beet factory into Spreckels Industrial 
Park, several senior housing projects, multi-purpose gyms at Golden 
West School and Sequoia School sites in conjunction with the Manteca 
Unified School District, a skate park, BMX park, Big League Dreams 
sports park, the Tidewater Bike Path, which converted nearly four miles 
of abandoned railroad tracks into a pedestrian and bicycle pathway, 
Stadium Plaza, Northern California's first Bass Pro Shop and the 
Manteca Lifestyle Center at the Promenade.
  Mayor Weatherford's dedication to service extends far beyond the 
public sphere with membership in several community organizations, 
including the Manteca Safety Council, Manteca Kiwanis Club United 
Lutherans Church Council, serving on the Board of Directors for the 
Boys and Girls Club, United Way, Eskaton Independent Senior Living, and 
as District Chairman for the Boy Scouts. He has truly made a 
substantial and lasting impact.
  Mr. Weatherford and his wife, Sherilyn, have been members of the 
Manteca community for more than 42 years. He is the proud father of two 
daughters, Dawnis and Dayna, and grandfather to 5.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Manteca Mayor Willie 
Weatherford, on his retirement and thanking him for his exemplary 
leadership and service to the community.

                          ____________________