INDEX
- Marshall McKay, tribal elder, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation
- Richard Rominger, agricultural icon, 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Medal recipient
Marshall McKay: Tribal elder
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation elder Marshall McKay, a former member of the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Foundation Board who joined his tribe in its ardent support of the university, has died.
The Tribal Council in Brooks, in Yolo County鈥檚 Capay Valley, issued a Dec. 30 announcing McKay鈥檚 death, noting that he had battled COVID-19. 鈥淲e know our pain is shared by so many families facing the devastating effects of this pandemic,鈥 the council said. 鈥淲e will miss his strength and wisdom. He was a resolute protector of Native American heritage here, within our own homeland, but also throughout California and Indian Country.鈥
McKay, 68, died Dec. 29 at died at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times. The newspaper noted McKay鈥檚 selection as the first Indigenous chairman on the board of the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles.
He was a member of the Tribal Council for 31 years, 1984-2015, including 10 as the chair, and continued to serve on many of the tribe鈥檚 governmental bodies, including the board of directors for Cache Creek Casino Resort.
鈥淗e was instrumental in helping Yocha Dehe achieve economic independence, he helped the tribe grow and diversify its agricultural operations, and he helped to greatly expand the tribe鈥檚 land holdings within Yocha Dehe鈥檚 ancestral territory,鈥 the Tribal Council said.
Read Chancellor Gary S. May鈥檚 statement on the passing of Marshall McKay.
Richard Rominger: Agricultural icon
新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis alumnus Richard Rominger, Class of 1949, a Yolo County farmer who held agricultural leadership posts in the state and federal governments, died Dec. 20 at the age of 93.
He met his future wife, Evelyne, who survives him, in the Cal Aggie Marching Band. Stalwart supporters of 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis 鈥 Rich had served as a member of the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Foundation Board 鈥 each received the university鈥檚 highest honor, the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Medal, in 2016.
鈥淩ich was a true public servant and an inspiration to us all,鈥 Helene Dillard, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, said in a to the college鈥檚 website.
Rominger had served as a member of the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council, and also had been an advisor to the chancellor鈥檚 office and the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Agricultural Sustainability Institute.
鈥淩ich was a man of integrity and you could always count on him for thoughtful advice,鈥 Dillard said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 impossible to overstate Rich鈥檚 lasting contributions to public service and to agriculture.鈥
Rominger was a pioneer in both conventional and organic farming. With deep ties to 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis, the Rominger family welcomes student and faculty researchers to their 6,000-acre farm to further the science of sustainable food production.
He was a co-founder and founding president of the Yolo Land Trust and had served on the board of the American Farmland Trust for 17 years.
No services are planned at this time. To continue Rominger鈥檚 work, his family asks for memorial contributions to the Yolo Land Trust, 221 W. Court St., Suite 5, Woodland 95695; and the Bradford-Rominger Agricultural Sustainability Leadership Award Fund at the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Agricultural Sustainability Institute, in care of the Dean鈥檚 Office, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis, 1 Shields Ave., Davis 95616.
Media Resources
Dateline Staff, 530-752-6556, dateline@ucdavis.edu