Born in Iowa, he came to California with Mom, Dad, Sister Irene and Brother Walter (Paddy) prior to 1910, settling first, in the Imperial Valley. By 1915, the family had moved and purchased a farm in a rural agricultural area of Ventura County, known as Hueneme (Y-NEE-ME). Too young too realize it then, Ralph had found a home for life.
Sister Ethel and Freda were added to the family in California and the (5) McKeehan Kids attended and graduated from, Oxnard Grammar School. Then at age 13, the unthinkable happened; his father died a painful death from pancreatic cancer. Life as Ralph knew it was over . . his goal became to leave home as soon as possible and become successful at whatever he chose to do.
In 1926 he married a cute and perky little lady, Lela, sister to Roy Lown, a Ranch foreman in the area. Ralph and Lela had two daughters, Bette and Joyce, who married and gave them (7) Grandchildren (13) Great-Grandchildren.
As the years went by, Ralph became successful in the business of hauling citrus fruit from the fields to the local packing house, for forty years and as a community leader for the small town Hueneme, soon to become the incorporated City of Port Hueneme; thru the efforts of people like Ralph and other community advocates, the people in the small town defeated annexation by the City of Oxnard.
Was he a council member of the first City Council? you bet! and did he later serve as Mayor? that too! Over the years he served as foreman of the Ventura County Grand Jury, was appointed commissioner to the Harbor Board, by the Governor (who later was known as Chief Justice Earl Warren) and the list goes on and on. He was awarded a 25 year plaque in recognition of his service. But it was determined that if you calculated the years served in various organizations, it would be closer to 75 years of service. In fact, when I graduated from Hueneme Grammar School, he was president of the school board and handed me my diploma. I, in return, kissed his cheek . . . afterall, he was my DAD.
Note: I lost my Dad to cancer (Lymphoma) in 1981.
Sister Ethel and Freda were added to the family in California and the (5) McKeehan Kids attended and graduated from, Oxnard Grammar School. Then at age 13, the unthinkable happened; his father died a painful death from pancreatic cancer. Life as Ralph knew it was over . . his goal became to leave home as soon as possible and become successful at whatever he chose to do.
In 1926 he married a cute and perky little lady, Lela, sister to Roy Lown, a Ranch foreman in the area. Ralph and Lela had two daughters, Bette and Joyce, who married and gave them (7) Grandchildren (13) Great-Grandchildren.
As the years went by, Ralph became successful in the business of hauling citrus fruit from the fields to the local packing house, for forty years and as a community leader for the small town Hueneme, soon to become the incorporated City of Port Hueneme; thru the efforts of people like Ralph and other community advocates, the people in the small town defeated annexation by the City of Oxnard.
Was he a council member of the first City Council? you bet! and did he later serve as Mayor? that too! Over the years he served as foreman of the Ventura County Grand Jury, was appointed commissioner to the Harbor Board, by the Governor (who later was known as Chief Justice Earl Warren) and the list goes on and on. He was awarded a 25 year plaque in recognition of his service. But it was determined that if you calculated the years served in various organizations, it would be closer to 75 years of service. In fact, when I graduated from Hueneme Grammar School, he was president of the school board and handed me my diploma. I, in return, kissed his cheek . . . afterall, he was my DAD.
Note: I lost my Dad to cancer (Lymphoma) in 1981.
Born in Iowa, he came to California with Mom, Dad, Sister Irene and Brother Walter (Paddy) prior to 1910, settling first, in the Imperial Valley. By 1915, the family had moved and purchased a farm in a rural agricultural area of Ventura County, known as Hueneme (Y-NEE-ME). Too young too realize it then, Ralph had found a home for life.
Sister Ethel and Freda were added to the family in California and the (5) McKeehan Kids attended and graduated from, Oxnard Grammar School. Then at age 13, the unthinkable happened; his father died a painful death from pancreatic cancer. Life as Ralph knew it was over . . his goal became to leave home as soon as possible and become successful at whatever he chose to do.
In 1926 he married a cute and perky little lady, Lela, sister to Roy Lown, a Ranch foreman in the area. Ralph and Lela had two daughters, Bette and Joyce, who married and gave them (7) Grandchildren (13) Great-Grandchildren.
As the years went by, Ralph became successful in the business of hauling citrus fruit from the fields to the local packing house, for forty years and as a community leader for the small town Hueneme, soon to become the incorporated City of Port Hueneme; thru the efforts of people like Ralph and other community advocates, the people in the small town defeated annexation by the City of Oxnard.
Was he a council member of the first City Council? you bet! and did he later serve as Mayor? that too! Over the years he served as foreman of the Ventura County Grand Jury, was appointed commissioner to the Harbor Board, by the Governor (who later was known as Chief Justice Earl Warren) and the list goes on and on. He was awarded a 25 year plaque in recognition of his service. But it was determined that if you calculated the years served in various organizations, it would be closer to 75 years of service. In fact, when I graduated from Hueneme Grammar School, he was president of the school board and handed me my diploma. I, in return, kissed his cheek . . . afterall, he was my DAD.
Note: I lost my Dad to cancer (Lymphoma) in 1981.
Sister Ethel and Freda were added to the family in California and the (5) McKeehan Kids attended and graduated from, Oxnard Grammar School. Then at age 13, the unthinkable happened; his father died a painful death from pancreatic cancer. Life as Ralph knew it was over . . his goal became to leave home as soon as possible and become successful at whatever he chose to do.
In 1926 he married a cute and perky little lady, Lela, sister to Roy Lown, a Ranch foreman in the area. Ralph and Lela had two daughters, Bette and Joyce, who married and gave them (7) Grandchildren (13) Great-Grandchildren.
As the years went by, Ralph became successful in the business of hauling citrus fruit from the fields to the local packing house, for forty years and as a community leader for the small town Hueneme, soon to become the incorporated City of Port Hueneme; thru the efforts of people like Ralph and other community advocates, the people in the small town defeated annexation by the City of Oxnard.
Was he a council member of the first City Council? you bet! and did he later serve as Mayor? that too! Over the years he served as foreman of the Ventura County Grand Jury, was appointed commissioner to the Harbor Board, by the Governor (who later was known as Chief Justice Earl Warren) and the list goes on and on. He was awarded a 25 year plaque in recognition of his service. But it was determined that if you calculated the years served in various organizations, it would be closer to 75 years of service. In fact, when I graduated from Hueneme Grammar School, he was president of the school board and handed me my diploma. I, in return, kissed his cheek . . . afterall, he was my DAD.
Note: I lost my Dad to cancer (Lymphoma) in 1981.
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