Generations of Manteca-Lathrop residents owe their good health to Dr. Randall K. Yee and his late father Dr. Richard Duck Moon Yee.
The younger Yee joined his father in serving Manteca area patients in 1982. So far the two Yees  have provided an unbroken string of 60 plus years of patient care with an accumulative total of 70 years between them.
On Saturday, the two physicians became the first father-son combo inducted into the Manteca Hall of Fame at the same time. Both were inducted in the field of Health Care.
Other members of the Class of 2016 were  Henry C. Long, agriculture; Michael Bruce Mallory, Business; Peter P. Dalben, Government; Phil Waterford, special recognition; George (Joe) Handy, Education; Arnita Marie Yepez, Community Service; and Walker Vick, Athletics.
 The late Dr. Richard Lee graduated from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in 1956 and then the California College of Medicine in 1955.
He served in World War II from 1944 to 1946 as part of the Army Medical Corps.
Dr. Richard Yee had a family practice in Manteca from 1956 to 1982 before going to work as a Kaiser physician from 1985 to 1995. He was one of the first physicians on the medical staff at Manteca Hospital (now known as Doctors Hospital) and Oak Park Hospital in Stockton. It was noted Yee was known as “the rear admiral” for his work in proctology.
He was known for his warm and  caring personality as well as his ability to remember the names of patients and all of their children. He even made house calls.
He enjoyed traveling the world, attending celebrations, visiting friends, and took comfort in his favorite book in the Bible, Ecclesiastes.
Dr. Randall Yee is a 1968 Manteca High graduate and a member of that school’s hall of fame. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree  in biological sciences in 1972 from USC. Yee graduated in 1997 from the University of the East Medical School.
Yee has practiced both inpatient and outpatient care for the past 34 years as a physician associated with Manteca Hospital, St. Dominic’s  Hospital, and Doctors Hospital of Manteca.
As a medical staff member at Doctors Hospital he has served as chairman of the Patient Care Committee for  nine years, Chief of Medicine for two years, as well as on the Executive Staff, Pharmacy Utilization Review, and Credentials Committee.
He served on the medical staff of St. Dominic’s Hospital from 2000 to 2010 as a member of the Board of Trustees, Chief of Staff, Chairman of the Department of medicine, Executive Board, Credentials, Utilization Review, Pharmacy and ICU committees.
He was  a member of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Board of Trustees from 2001nto 2003.
Yee has provided care for the indignant, poor and those in need of medical care for 34 years. He served with the Deuel Vocational Institute Ministry in Tracy from 2005 to 2013 and has been part of a weekly Bible study group in Manteca since 2008.
He enjoys studying the Holy Bible, gardening and spending time with his 2½ year old grandson Luke.
Other inductees include:
JOE HANDY: He taught at Manteca High from 1960 to 1997 as a science teacher including 12 years as department chair. He served for 12 years as a Master Teacher for Stanislaus State.
Handy coached 12 years of basketball (freshman, sophomore, varsity), 15 years of freshmen football, 5 years as an assistant coach, 5 years as an assistant varsity baseball coach, and 2 years as a varsity swim coach.
The 1955 Summerville High graduate received diplomas from Stockton College in 1957 and Humboldt State College in 1959.
Former students and those that taught with him credit Handy for having a major influence on their lives.
“Every teacher at Manteca High knew that Joe was an effective teacher because you could hear students talk about how good he was,” said fellow teacher Jack Miller. “The great thing about Joe was he mentored unconsciously, subconsciously, and consciously. When you were around him you were always learning, but it did not feel like you were being taught.
ARNITA MARIE YEPEZ: The tireless Lathrop volunteer has made it her mission to make sure the community’s rich heritage is remembered and honored.
The lifelong Lathrop resident was among a group that pushed for the establishment of a veteran’s memorial at the Fifth Street community park. She is the only remaining committee member still  working each year to stage Memorial Day and Veterans Day events at the memorial to honor those who have served. She has been chair of the event four times.
She was hired at Tracy Defense Depot in 1966 as a packer. She became the first woman lead packer and was promoted to packer foreman. She retired from the depot in 1993.
PHIL WATERFORD: The businessman is driven to serve the less fortunate in the community .
The owner of Manteca Ford has for the past five years s opened his dealership on Christmas Eve to serve a free breakfast to more than 1,000 people plus provide kids with toys. He is a long-time financial backer of the Memorial Weekend Commemoration at Woodward Park. Waterford is a supporter of numerous community non-profits such as the Manteca Boys & Girls Club. While he opens his checkbook to make sure kids have a chance for a better life, he also goes a step further. This month, for example, he took a Boys & Girls Club member of the year to the Golden State Warriors playoff game where she had courtside seats.
His biggest contributions to the community, however, might just be his random acts of kindness and willingness to share his strong faith. The faith and grace are reflected in numerous heartfelt gestures that range from grand to small.
 
HENRY C. LONG: A farmer with roots dating back to 1901 in French Camp, Long  farmed for 45 years.
Long’s community involvement includes 48 years with the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau including stints on the board as well as the Bureau’s land and water committee, serving on the Ag Advisory Board, Nisei Farmers League Board of Directors, Delta Water Users Association, director of the French Camp-McKinley Fire District for 40 years from 1969 to 2010, and chairman of Reclamation District 17 covering 17 miles along the San Joaquin River.
WALKER W. VICK: A coach and athletic director at Manteca High for 38 years, Vick is credited with having a lasting impact on students he taught as well as students he coached.
 Among Vick’s accomplishments was serving as head varsity baseball coach at Manteca High from 1964 to 1972 with four league championships and recognition as Valley Oak League Coach of the Year four times, assistant football coach at Manteca High 1960 to 1968, head varsity football coach at Manteca High 1969 to 1981. He has the second highest amount of wins of all time among Manteca High football coaches at 76 wins, 42 losses and 4 ties. His tenure included five league championships and five VOL Coach of the year awards.
He served athletic director of Manteca High for 17 years from 1985 to 2002, Sac-Joaquin Section board service from 2002 to 2014, Sac-Joaquin varsity basketball official from 1961 to 1988, and Manteca High physical education department chair from 1965 to 2002.
The Manteca High field house was named the Walker Vick Field House in his honor in 2005.
PETER DALBEN: The gym at East Union High is named in honor of the French Camp resident who had a combined 33 years of service on various government agency boards,
Dalben served on the French Camp Elementary School board from 1952 to 1966 and was clerk and president for most of those years. From 1961 to 1963 he also served on the Manteca Union High School District board. Then from 1965 to 1975 he served on the Manteca Unified School District board including at least two terms as president.
He was a member of the French Camp-McKinley Rural Fire Protection board and served four years as board president. Dalben also served in the French Camp Municipal Advisory Council in 1981-1982.
Dalben worked for 24 years as a public works shop division director at Rough and Ready island in Stockton. At one time he supervised more than 200 employees including those assigned to government bases in Dixon and at Mt. Diablo. He worked for 38 years as a government employee.
MIKE MALLORY: He is credited with forging a team approach to transform Second Harvest Food Bank as a major player in the battle against hunger throughout the 209.
Mallory is credited with reaching out for product and support from farm organizations and corporations on a  national and local level such as Foster Farms, SaveMart, General Mills, Conagra, Mountain Valley Express, Raymus Development and Van Groningen & Sons. He has developed strong relationships with Feeding America and other food organizations allowing him to utilize or adapt their programs along with his contacts and vision to take Second Harvest Food Bank from a local to regional focus.