It is with great pleasure the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce and Central Valley Association of Realtors announce that Benjamin J. Reddish Jr. has been selected as the 67th Stocktonian of the Year. Mr. Reddish will be the first posthumous honoree and the 2nd African American to receive the award.
On Wednesday, February 10th past Stocktonians of the Year, members of the Stocktonian of the Year Selection Committee and some community members surprised Benjamin’s wife Janie and son B. Joe Reddish III with the news on a Zoom call.
Benjamin J. Reddish Jr. Passed away at the age of 85 on December 5, 2020. During his life he was well known in the Stockton community for his leadership, volunteerism and service. He was a great civic leader and had a big influence on Stockton’s history.
Benjamin received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from South Carolina State University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of the Pacific. Benjamin served in the US Army as a Laboratory Technician. After his service to our country, he returned to Stockton and started his 43 year career with Stockton United School District as a counselor and educator.
During his life Benjamin was very involved with many community organizations. Here is a list of just some of his civic and community activities:
In 2017 Benjamin was honored with an award from the University of the Pacific Community Involvement Program (CIP) which they named after him, the Benjamin Reddish Community Impact Award. In 2019 Benjamin was honored by the Pacific Alumni Association with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Volunteer Service.
Mr. Reddish was an avid photographer and could be found at many local events, often offering his services for free, photographing and sharing his love of photography and the community.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and gathering restrictions, the banquet to honor Benjamin J. Reddish Jr. is on hold. We will update this page with more information as the event is scheduled.
1954 J. Corbin Shepher, Deceased
1955 Dean Decarli, Deceased
1956 Harvey Stull, Deceased
1957 Fred Bitterman, Deceased
1958 George Ernest, Deceased
1959 J. A. Simpson, Deceased
1960 Jacob Fetzer, Deceased
1961 Emerson French, Deceased
1962 Harold Nelson, Deceased
1963 Jack O’Keefe, Deceased
1964 Reed Robbins, Deceased
1965 Fred Schneider, Deceased
1966 Michael Canlis, Deceased
1967 B. L. (Bernie) Faunce, Deceased
1968 Laurence Drivon, Deceased
1969 Ort Lofthus
1970 Pearl West, Deceased
1971 John Cecchini, Deceased
1972 Eugene Castles, Deceased
1973 D. David Smith, Deceased
1974 Warren Atherton, Deceased
1975 Robert Eberhardt, Deceased
1976 Stuart Gibbons, Deceased
1977 Sgt. Pat Noble
1978 Marian Jacobs, Deceased
1979 Alex G. Spanos, Deceased
1980 Thelma Stewart, Deceased
1981 Don Schrader
1982 Helen Verber Crane
1983 Bing Wallace, Deceased
1984 Fritz Grupe
1985 Leo D’ Or, Deceased
1986 Dr. Virgil Gianelli, Deceased
1987 Dr. Joseph B. Serra
1988 Rudy Croce
1989 Mimi Eberhardt
1990 Dr. Guillermo C. Vicuna, Deceased
1991 Bob Whittington, Deceased
1992 Floyd Weaver, Deceased
1993 Don Stewart, Deceased
1994 Gerri Dunlap, Deceased
1995 Dennis “Don” Geiger
1996 Bob Kavanaugh
1997 Sharon Simas
1998 Ross Bewley, Deceased
1999 David Brewer, Deceased
2000 Ray Baglietto, Deceased
2001 C. Joseph Crane, Deceased
2002 Phyllis Grupe
2003 Edward Coy, Deceased
2004 Kathleen Lagorio Janssen
2005 Dino Cortopassi
2006 Douglass Wilhoit
2007 Douglass M Eberhardt, Deceased
2008 David Rea, Deceased
2009 Robert Foy, Deceased
2010 John F. Quinn
2011 Becky Mizener
2012 Andy Prokop
2013 Jane Butterfield
2014 Tim Ulmer
2015 Mel Corren
2016 Fred Weibel
2017 Elizabeth Yip Lee Blanchard
2018 Duane Isetti
2019 Beverly Fitch McCarthy
2020 Benjamin J. Reddish Jr. (posthumous)