Ten men and women who helped weave the social and economic fabric of the community are now part of the Manteca Hall of Fame.
They run the gamut from business owners and educators to a doctor, farmer and a tireless community volunteer. They all, however, share a common thread of community building.
Inducted as part of the Class of 2017 during the 25th annual Hall of Fame dinner and ceremonies staged Saturday by the Manteca-Lathrop Boys & Girls Club at the Manteca Senior Center were Jerry Rose, at large; Jack Devincenzi, athletics; Rick Arucan, education; Rick Hammarstrom, art; Dr. Glenn Brown, health care; Jack Lewis, business; Scott Blevins, business; Bill Van Ryn, agriculture, Ken Hafer, special recognition; and Tevani Liotard, community service.
Liotard has been an educator in the Manteca Unified School District since 1990.
Jeannette Farley, in nominating Liotard, noted her extensive contributions to the community through “MUSD Acorn League, Rotary Interact Club of Manteca, Give Every Child a Chance, as a local business owner (Mountain Mike’s). Each involves students and community service. Tevani’s connections through the school district and these organizations complement each other and create synergy among them. Character, competitive, committed, connected, collaborative . . . These attributes define Tevani in her personal life and in her career.”
The 1983 Manteca High graduate earned degrees at Delta College as well as at California State University, Sacramento. She attended CSUS on a volleyball scholarship where she earned All American honors and induction into the CSUS Volleyball Hall of Fame.
She coached high school volleyball, basketball and softball. As varsity volleyball coach for 14 years, her teams made it to the playoffs five times. She also coached volleyball for Modesto Junior College.
Devincenzi known as “Mr. D” to his former students taught, coached, and worked as a vice principal during an education career that stretched from 1958 to 1994 and included working at Lathrop School, New Haven School, and East Union High.
“In every instance, Jack’s coaching and teaching methods motivated his students and athletes to do their best in the classroom and on the playing field,” noted Ron Dalben who nominated Devincenzi for the Hall of Fame. “Always conducting himself in a professional manner, his actions were in the best interests of the youth of Manteca, Lathrop and French Camp. Thousands of students remember Mr. D as a tough but fair teacher, coach and disciplinarian.”
The Fresno State graduate served in the Army.

Blevins lauded as great
mentor and supporter
of community endeavors
Blevins is CEO and President of Mountain Valley Express. The Manteca-based trucking firm is now in its 41st year. He’s been a board member for nine years for Second Harvest Food Bank including a stint as president. He is the current chairman of the board for Doctors Hospital of Manteca, an active member of the Manteca Morning Rotary Club, and an active member of the California Trucking Association and has served as president of the statewide organization. His long list of community endeavors includes an annual Truckin’ for Hospice event that uses the MVE terminal as its final stop. It raised nearly $70,000 last year. Another high profile community endeavor was the donation, storage, and maintenance of the trailer used for the Manteca Chamber of Commerce Flags over Manteca.
“Scott Blevins has been a great mentor and role model of mine,” noted Johnny Navarro who serves as MVE’s vice president of sales and marketing. “Scott’s energy, work ethic, and personality are in a class of their own. Kindness is a quality Scott possess that I truly admire. His community involvement and humanitarian contributions are truly inspiring.”
The 1980 East Union High graduate earned his diesel mechanic certificate at the Arizona Automotive Institute.
Lewis owned and operated Lewis Tile Company for 32 years. At age 17 when his father died and while he was still in high school he continued operating the family dairy for a number of years. At the same time he spent his winters working the night shifts at Fibreboard, Mohawk Tire Company and American Can Company before becoming a tile setter helper in 1964. Lewis’ generosity was legendary. He donated the entire St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway tile work for several years and donated work for other non-profits including St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. There were also various individuals he did work for that he simply opted not to bill.
“Jack hired and trained many young men in the ceramic tile profession,” noted Rosalyne Leon who nominated Lewis for the Hall of Fame. “Several of his former employees have gone on to start businesses of their own. His tile crews worked on hundreds of tract homes for major residential developers and other commercial projects throughout the San Joaquin Valley.”
The 1958 Manteca High graduate attended Delta College and Modesto Junior College. He was involved extensively in 4-H and FFA as well as high school football boosters club, FESM, MRPS, Manteca Boys & Girls Club and other organizations.
 Brown founded the Manteca Medical Group in 1963. The Missouri native enlisted in the Marines at age 16 and served in Pacific Theater battles during World War II. He also owned and operated flying schools and an agricultural crop dusting business. He earned a chemistry degree at San Francisco State University in 1958 and medical degree in 1962 at the University of California, San Francisco. He completed his internship at San Joaquin General Hospital.
“As a physician, Dr. Brown’s ultimate goal was to grow old with his patients,” indicated Toni Raymus who nominated Brown for the Hall of Fame. “Delivering multiple generations of families, his goal was very much achieved before retiring. Dr. Brown was loved by his patients and practiced family medicine building lifelong relationships.”
Brown volunteered as the attending physician for Manteca High football games from 1962 into the late 1980s. He also provided volunteer services for highs school physicals from 1962 to 1998.
Arucan was the first principal for Sierra High. It is a role he served in from 1993 when the third comprehensive high school opened in the Manteca Unified School District until his retirement.
“Rick drove Sierra to always strive to be the very best,” noted Greg Leland who nominated Arucan for the honor. “Rick’s thirst for learning and mentoring his young staff were inspirational to those around him and once again, his attention to detail, discipline, and work ethic rubbed off on both his students and staff.
Arucan is in the Edison High Hall of Fame, the University of Pacific Hall of Fame, the Sierra High Hall of Fame, and the Stockton Mexican Sports Hall of Fame. The 1965 graduate of Stockton’s Edison High completed degrees at the University of Redlands, University of the Pacific, LaVerne University and the California School Leadership Academy.
At Edison Arucan was an outstanding scholar-athlete earning most valuable player awards and all-league honors in baseball and all-league recognition for football. He earned an academic/athletic scholarship to Redlands and later transferred to UOP where he was a member of the Tigers’ 1968 championship baseball team.

Hammarstrom is
passionate about music
Hammarstrom is in his 28th year as a Manteca Unified School District teacher and has been band director at Sierra High since 1998. He began his career as a music educator in 1985. Hammarstrom is passionate about music and dedicated to his students. He regularly brings in guest artists and clinicians to perform and work with his students. 
Those nominated him noted Hammarstrom “goes to great lengths to ensure his students are getting the most out of their musical education.” He takes them to festivals so they can perform, hear others perform, and most importantly get feedback from experts. His bands have performed all over California including Disneyland as well as in Oregon, Hawaii, and Japan. He takes great pride in the fact many of his former students have gone on to become music teachers themselves and some even earn a living as performers.
Born in San Francisco in 1960, Hammarstrom graduated from Hayward High in 1978. Before graduating from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s of Music and teaching credential, he served as a mission for two years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  in Tokyo. Hammarstrom obtained his Masters of Music Education from California State University at Sacramento in 1990. He also majored in music at Ricks College.
Hafer was the key linchpin behind establishing the Manteca museum 27 years ago.
But his involvement with Manteca history proceeded the museum’s founding by decades. He had been using a house he purchased years prior near the furniture store he founded to start collecting historical Manteca items including bound copies of the Manteca Bulletin dating back a century ago.
After helping get the museum established and securing its present home in the 100-year-old church that once housed Manteca’s Episcopalian and Methodist congregations, he oversaw the museum’s organization and operation for years.
He owned Hafer’s Furniture for years.
The 1950 Manteca High graduate served two terms as president of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce. He also was a past president of the San Joaquin Valley Swiss Club as well as serving as president of the Swiss Echoes choral group. He was a member of the Manteca Kiwanis Club, American Legion, and the St. Anthony’s Men’s Federation. He was also a master of ceremonies for Swiss Radio.
Van Ryn has been a self-employed farmer since 1974.
“When I think of Bill and what he has done and what he is still doing in agriculture, it is amazing,” noted Art Perry of Perry & Sons who nominated Van Ryn. “He is very involved in farming and Ag business where he has done a great job.”
Van Ryn has served as the Calla Nile Farm Center president and on the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau board. He played a key role in the federal lobbying effort to change the estate tax law for family farms to allow them to flourish generation after generation.
He is a member of the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church where he is active in marriage preparation for young. He is also the male mentor for young married couples, is a member of Perpetual Adoration Team at St. Anthony’s, and assists with the ministries supporting single mothers and children.
Van Ryn is also a supporter of the Manteca Pregnancy Help Center and the St. Vincent de Paul Society that helps the needy with food, clothing, and other needs.

Jones is tireless
helper of others
Jones is active with the Lathrop Lions Club that he helped charter. He has been a Lathrop resident for more than 60 years.
“Jerry’s biggest attribute is his huge heart and willingness to put other first,” said Mark Elliott, who nominated Rose. “The selfless acts described (for his) nomination describes a man that Lathrop is proud to have as a resident.”
Those selfless acts include:
uCollecting and delivering pastries from SaveMart stores in Lathrop and Manteca as well as the Weston Ranch Food 4 Less on a weekly basis and delivering them to the following programs: Men’s Recovery House, Family Ties, and the Wellness Center.
uTwice a month he delivers groceries to homeless shelters throughout San Joaquin County.
uCollecting, restoring and even purchasing recycled bicycles to provide transportation for young adults and children in the community.
uCollecting eyeglasses from area Wal-Mart stores and vision care providers to delivering them to organizations that recycle them for those that can’t afford them.
uCollecting pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.
uDonating a large raffle prize each year for the Lathrop Relay for Life benefitting the American Cancer Society.
The 1954 Manteca High graduate has served as an East Union High Band Booster and with the Lathrop Veterans Memorial effort. He retired in 2016 after 45 years as a truck driver. His last job from 1990 to 2016 was with Aartman Transport in Ripon. He received the 2 Million Mile Driving Safety Award in 2013 from Caltrans.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com