The highest ranking congressman serving in the House of Representatives from the San Joaquin Valley before Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield was elected speaker was from Manteca.
John McFall — who served in Congress from 1957 to 1978 — was elected majority whip 50 years ago this month.
Whips are essentially officials within a political party that work to get members to vote according to official party policy.
McFall served as the majority whip under Tip O’Neill during four years for the Democrats from 1973 to 1978.
McFall was born in Buffalo, NY, on Feb. 20, 1918. He moved with his family to Manteca three days before Manteca was incorporated on May 20, 1918.
His father — Hope McFall — was one of two Manteca men killed in World War I.
The 1934 Manteca High graduate also graduated from Modesto Junior College in 1936. He earned degrees in political science and law at the University of California at Berkeley.
After serving in World War II with the Army Security Intelligence Corps, McFall returned to Manteca and continued his private law practice.
McFall served as Manteca’s mayor from 1949 to 1950 and then served in the California Assembly from 1951 to1956 before getting elected to Congress.
McFall was chairman for eight years of the powerful transportation subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.
He also served on the Defense Sub-Committee where he was instrumental in preventing the closure of Sharpe Army Depot in Lathrop by securing the $100 million automated warehouse for the facility.
He lost his bid for a 12th term in Congress in the fallout from “Koreagate” — an influence peddling scandal that involved several members of Congress.
He married Evelyn A.M. Anklam McFall in 1950. The couple had four children. In 1978 he retired to Alexandria, Virginia. He died March 7, 2006, from complications of a broken hip and Parkinson's disease.[3]
The desk McFall used in his Capitol office is on display in the Manteca museum as well as other memorabilia.
The museum is located at 600 W. Yosemite Ave. It is open Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantcabulletin.com
