[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 13, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E911-E912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING FREDERICK EUGENE ZEHNDER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ERIC SWALWELL

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 2022

  Mr. SWALWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of 
Frederick ``Fred'' Eugene Zehnder, founder and editor of the San 
Leandro Times, the Castro Valley Forum, and prominent KTVU news 
director, on the anniversary of his passing on June 27, 2021.
  Born on a dairy farm in Lakeport, California on March 5, 1934, Fred's 
love for journalism began at the age of 10 when he started the Scotts 
Valley News. This one-page weekly report was written, edited, and 
delivered all by Fred.
  In 1952, Fred attended Humboldt State College where he earned a 
bachelor's degree in Journalism. While studying at Humboldt, he worked 
part-time at the local radio station in Eureka, California.
  In 1956, Fred was drafted into the Army. At his posting in Fort 
Bliss, Texas, he worked as an Army public information officer under Sam 
Donaldson. After his time in the Army, Fred worked for KVIQ-TV in 
Eureka as the station's first news director. He later worked for 
several other networks, including KPIX Channel 5, CBS-TV, and KGO-TV. 
In 1988, Fred became the news director at KTVU Channel 2 in Oakland, 
California, until his retirement in 1999. For over 20 years, he worked 
with talents such as Dennis Richmond, Barbara Simpson, Elaine Corral, 
Leslie Griffith, Julie Haener, Bill Martin, and Mark Ibanez.
  While working at KTVU, Fred founded the San Leandro Times and later 
purchased the Castro Valley Forum. Every Wednesday, over 22,000 copies 
of the Castro Valley Forum continue to be delivered for free to Castro 
Valley residents and businesses. Additionally, on Thursdays, over 
38,000 free copies of the San

[[Page E912]]

Leandro Times are distributed to businesses and residents throughout 
San Leandro.
  Fred tragically lost his life at the age of 87, after being struck by 
a drunk driver while walking in his Alameda neighborhood.
  Fred shaped the journalism landscape in the East Bay, both in print 
and television. We're grateful for his commitment to community 
journalism and the legacy he created. He is survived by his three 
brothers, John, Robert, and David; his seven nephews and niece, Andy, 
Chris, Jim, Mark, David, Rob, Mitch, and Carolyn; and his long-time 
friends and business partners Howard and Claudette Morrison.

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