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Stanislaus County honors veterans and longtime county employees
Summary
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors proclaimed November 2025 as National Veterans and Military Families Month and recognized multiple veterans and five county employees for decades of service, including centenarian honorees and staff with 25–35 years on the job.
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors opened its meeting with a proclamation designating November 2025 as National Veterans and Military Families Month and a series of recognitions for veterans and long‑serving county employees.
Ryan Kegley of the County Veterans Service Office read the board’s resolution, which the board adopted unanimously. The proclamation thanked local veterans and military families for their ‘‘duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity [and] personal courage,’’ and declared the month a time of countywide recognition.
Supervisors then presented Veterans of the Year honors to local service members, including Ralph “Tony” Lopez, a former petty officer who volunteers transporting veterans to medical appointments; Don Gray, a World War II Navy veteran who turned 104 and recounted his service around Pearl Harbor and Midway; and other honorees from World War II and later eras. Don Gray told the board, ‘‘I just continue to breathe, folks,’’ and the chamber applauded the centenarian veterans.
The board also recognized five county employees for milestone service: Lorena Gutierrez (25 years), Olga (30 years), Hector Ayala (30 years), Desiree 'Desi' Tobar (30 years) and Ramona 'Mona' Brown (35 years). Presenters summarized each honoree’s career and community contributions; recipients offered brief remarks of gratitude. Chief executive staff and board members said the awards underscore continuity in county services and institutional memory.
The presentations concluded with group photographs and brief board remarks thanking veterans and county staff for their ongoing contributions. No policy decisions were made as part of these recognitions.
