Daily Democrat July 26, 2005
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| Woodland loses active community member | |||||||||||||||||||
| By KAT ISAACSON/Democrat staff Writer
Daily Democrat July 26, 2005 |
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| Long-time Yolo County resident John Prescott McMahan, 76, died Saturday, at the Woodland Skilled Nursing Facility. McMahan served as a police officer and chief investigator for the Yolo County Public Defender's Office and was well-known throughout Woodland and the county as a very active member of the community. | |||||||||||||||||||
| McMahan was born April 20, 1929, in Sacramento to Henry and Hazel McMahan, and moved to Oakland when he was one years old. In 1947, he graduated from Oakland Technical High School, began his career as an officer with the Winters Police Department, then later served as the UC Davis Police Department's first detective, from 1951 through 1967. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rita Miller, manager of communications records for the campus police department, said McMahan kept in touch with various police personnel who worked at the department during the 1970s as well. | |||||||||||||||||||
| After leaving the UCD Police Department, he worked for the Yolo County Public Defender's office for 26 years and upon retirement was their chief investigator. | |||||||||||||||||||
| McMahan also regularly participated in the Chili Cook-off, Stroll Through History, Yolo County Grand Jury for two years, Woodland Historical Preservation Commission, VFW, Woodland Chamber of Commerce and American Legion. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "We've lost a great man," said Chamber of Commerce CEO Kristy Wright. "He was very devoted. He headed the Streets and Highways Committee and was responsible for getting Highway 113 passed - and I will always remember him for that." | |||||||||||||||||||
| John Fenrich, former publisher of the Daily Democrat, former president of the Chamber of Commerce and founder of the Woodland Dynamite Chili Cook-Off, has fond memories of McMahan | |||||||||||||||||||
| "I met John even before I came to Woodland to be publisher," he said. "He was the conductor on the Yolo Shortline Railroad and one of the friendliest people I had ever met. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Over the years I got to know John through his work for the Shortline and the Chamber. When we started the chili cook-off eight years ago, John was one of the first to volunteer to help and his hard work made it the success it became. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "John and his wife, Virginia, devoted themselves to making this community a better place through their leadership in the Lions Club and the chamber. John will be truly missed." | |||||||||||||||||||
| Additionally, he was a 35-year active member of the International Lions Club and served as president of the Woodland Host Lions Club, Davis Earlybirds and Davis Host Lions Club. He was also a charter member of the Sacramento Valley Historical Railways, where he was instrumental in restoring steam locomotive 1233 which was displayed at the Yolo County Fairgrounds for more than 50 years. McMahan served as the organization's chairman during the restoration of the Woodland Southern Pacific Depot as well and also helped start the Yolo Shortline RiverTrain excursion. | |||||||||||||||||||
| His long list of involvement with organizations continues with his membership with the California National Guard, as well as his activation for service in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Hart, president of the Sacramento RiverTrain, which merged earlier this year with the Yolo Shortline, was saddened to hear of McMahan's passing. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Even though I've known him for only two years, he's impressed me with his passion for railroading." | |||||||||||||||||||
| John Lynch of the Lions Club also fondly remembered McMahan. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Lion John never missed his weekly Lions meeting. He has a great sense of humor and loved to tell at least one story at each meeting. John worked on our International President's Campaign as communications director, which lasted some three years. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "John had been very active at his club and district level as he served as zone chairman and served on numerous committees over the years." Lynch continued. "John's greatest moment in Lionism was when the Woodland Host Lions Club honored him with a Melvin Jones Fellow, which is the highest award a club may offer its members. John will be dearly missed by all of his fellow Lions who got a chance to know him." | |||||||||||||||||||
| McMahan is survived by his wife, Virginia McMahan of Woodland; daughters Debra Smith of Columbus, Ohio; Lynda Rose McMahan of Suisun City and Maureen McMahan of Sacramento; brothers Alison McMahan of Newark; Harold McMahan of Manzanita, Ore.; stepchildren, Karen Parrish of French Camp; Veronica Banuelos of Lake Shasta City; Donna Bubelis of Granite Bay; and Sgt. Timothy McMahan of the U.S. Army, stationed in Darmstadt, Germany; two grandchildren and six stepgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathleen. | |||||||||||||||||||
| A memorial celebration for McMahan will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 28 at Lions Clubhouse, 417 Lincoln Ave., Woodland. Private graveside services for family will also be held. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Anyone wishing to contribute can send donations in McMahan's name to the Sacramento Valley Historical Railways (designated for the restoration of the SP Depot), 1120 Lincoln Ave., Woodland, 95695 or to Lions Charities. | |||||||||||||||||||
| - Reach Kat Isaacson 406-6232 or [email protected]. | |||||||||||||||||||
| - Patti Heath contributed to this story | |||||||||||||||||||
| Back to What People Are Saying About Dad... | |||||||||||||||||||