[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. BILL BLAKE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 23, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bill Blake, who passed 
away January 10, 2016 surrounded by his friends and loved ones. He was 
65.
  Bill was born and raised in Merced. As a young man he worked on farms 
until joining the Merced Sheriff's Office in 1971 at the age of 21. 
Bill served eight sheriffs over a 38 year period, working all across 
Merced County including Los Banos and the surrounding West Side.
  In 2003 Bill was named undersheriff by newly elected Sheriff Mark 
Pazin; who described Blake as an excellent undersheriff, a great 
friend, and ``a tough, no-nonsense guy: never afraid to mix it up with 
anybody or to tell anybody what he thought . . . we could disagree on 
things and he was never shy about letting me know his thoughts; but in 
the end, he never, ever held a grudge''.
  Current Merced County Sheriff Verne Warnke, who met Blake in the 
1970s, echoed that sentiment: ``He taught me that you could take care 
of business and move on without any grudge whatsoever''. Warnke credits 
Blake, and his manner of dealing with people, as a strong influence on 
him.
  Former Sheriff Tom Cavallero's first supervisor in the Merced County 
Sheriff's department was Bill Blake, whom he described as being 
``without a doubt the single most influential person I've known in my 
whole career''. Blake retired from law enforcement in 2009 after 
winning election to the Merced City Council, where he served two terms.
  Blake is survived by numerous grandchildren and his three children 
Billy, Tiffany, and Kevin; who followed in his father's footsteps as a 
sergeant in the Sheriff's Office and current Merced City Councilmember. 
Bill will be remembered for his accomplishments as a family man and a 
public servant who leaves behind a proud legacy of fighting for public 
safety and social justice.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me on this day in a moment 
of silence in memory of the life and service of Bill Blake. The 
contributions that he gave throughout his life have, and will continue 
to have, a lasting impression on the fabric of Merced. He will be 
missed by many, more than he'll ever know.

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