Ernie Mandere

 

I was born and raised in the ‘valley of fruits & nuts’, Santa Clara Valley, farm country before subdivisions and silicon chips.  Spent my youth among the farming community and went to public schools.  After a couple of years with the Navy and keeping tabs on Marines, I went to college.  My brother was already at Cal Poly SLO when I decided to join him.  

 

Once I graduated, I embarked on a varied career with various food companies, suppliers, outdoor action sports and toys company and then to a county government position in Redding. It was quite a drop in pay, but was worth the move out of the crowded SF Bay Area.

 

I met my future wife, Linda, while attending Cal Poly and we have twin sons, Sean & Stephen.  Our family has grown by two daughters-in-law and 9 grandchildren.

 

We have two Model A Fords, one is the Sport Coupe I had driven in high school and a Speedster, modified from a chassis.  We drive on tours and to various roundups or conventions.

 

A fellow county employee introduced me to the Redding Breakfast Lions Club and it has been a wild ride with this gang. I have heard various stories from speedy drives up the canyons of eastern Shasta county to throwing of dinner rolls at a Lions district convention.  I think things are calmer these days.

 

Published June, 2016