3 Historical Founding Fathers of Chula Vista

By Rachel Perez

Chula Vista has always been led by strong figures who used innovative thinking to strengthen our city. To commemorate Father’s Day, here are 3 local “founding fathers” who have strengthened Chula Vista in the educational, agricultural and marketplace fields. While there are countless meritable leaders in Chula Vista’s history, these highlighted figures give a small sense of the large leadership community who helped make Chula Vista more than just a spot on the map.

transition phase for a permanent location. The governing board decided on a 164-acre space on Telegraph Canyon Road, bordering the city’s eastern portion. In 1963, DeVore unveiled a scalemodel of a future campus design, created by architect George Foster. Chamber of Commerce member

Otis Pemberton predicted that the college and its community could become “the cultural center of South Bay.”

DeVore worked tirelessly to motivate students, faculty, professors and the Southwestern community as a whole through support and innovative plans for the college. Under DeVore’s presidency, enrollment at the college increased from 1,500 students in 1961 to more than 14,000 in 1981. In 1965, DeVore was named Chula Vista’s “Man of The Year” for his work towards educational growth in the city.

Besides being a vital steppingstone for educational and career path avenues for more than 19,000 students annually, Southwestern College is a hub for the Chula Vista community.

CHET DEVORE: EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

While you may have heard the name, many people don’t know that the stadium they gather at to watch football but ‘DeVore stadium’ is more than just a spot to watch football on a Friday night. Chester ‘Chet’ DeVore had a strong hand in bringing up Chula Vista’s high school and college communities. Born in Redlands, California in 1918, DeVore transferred to San Diego State University after attending Chaffey Community College.

In 1962, DeVore became the president and superintendent of Southwestern Community College District. He had previously served as the principal of Chula Vista High school, so his experience with educational leadership was a smooth transition for him. Southwestern College as we know it did not always have the modern architecture it has today, when DeVore served it was in a

Through his exceptionally strong leadership in financial, academic and programing plans, Southwestern College was able to thrive in its early years and provide higher-educational programs, degrees and certificates to its students. DeVore served as President and superintendent of the college until 1981, when he faithfully retired. Although he stepped back from his official position, DeVore’s invaluable contributions to Southwestern College were memorialized when the football stadium was named after him in 1981.

Before his career in education, DeVore served in the United States Marine Corps in 1942, during World War II. DeVore was a commissioned Second Lieutenant, participating in campaigns of Okinawa, Guan, Bougainville and Emirau. He earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal, and several Unit Citations. His time serving his country may have been another motivating factor in his passion for education and improving the life of students.

FELIX LEDESMA CASILLAS: AGRICULTURAL WORK

Many Hispanic families immigrated to the South Bay area in the early 1900’s to establish roots while farming the land or working in city factories. Casillas immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico in 1914 and had a short stint through Texas before settling in Chula Vista. The Casillas family was no stranger to hard work, as their nine children all assisted with the family’s work. While Casillas has a story similar to many for his time, his unique leadership in the immigrant and agricultural community is what sets him apart. Many immigrant families moved into an area referred to as “La Punta” (the point), an area near the western part of Anita Street and overlooked the salt ponds. Casillas eventually worked his way out of the area and built an adobe style home for his family in the early 1920’s.

All seven of Casillas’ sons went into the military when they came of age. The eldest son, Joseph, was severely injured in the Battle of the Bulge and awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in war action. Casillas Elementary School on East J Street was named in his honor.

Like many communities, immigrants made up a large part of the workforce in the early days of being established. Today, immigrants’ makeup more than 80% of the state’s agricultural workforce. In both Chula VIsta and California as a whole, immigrants to our community helped modernize and lead our agricultural efforts into the farming boom we became known for.

HENRY BONEY: LOCAL GROCERY

There’s a fat chance that most Chula Vista residents have gotten their groceries from Sprouts Farmers Market., a staple store in both west and east Chula Vista. More than just a routine route stop in the weekly grocery store for many locals, the grocery store was founded as a way to lead Chula Vista towards a more modern way to buy produce. Downtown Chula Vista has always been a hub for new store concepts, and in 1950, Henry Boney opened ‘Henry’s ‘ (also known as Boney’s in some locations), a grocery store meant to enhance the way locals shopped for fresh produce, meats and other goods. Although Chula VIsta was already a booming agricultural and farming industry by this time, Henry’s was innovative in the way it allowed locals to experience grocery shopping. Boney adapted to the needs of customers, something that had never been done before and may have been the product of feedback Boney heard from local buyers. Separate rooms with benches, soft music, books and desks for younger children to stay occupied while their parents shopped was unheard of, but Boney found this feature made the overall customer satisfaction rate skyrocket. The natural marketplace quickly changed the way locals bought groceries, with many customers who were raised and still lived a farming lifestyle never using the concept of a marketplace before.

Boney was originally from Texas, and arrived in Chula Vista in 1934. He worked for Arden Farms Dairy in San Diego until 1943, when he married his wife Jessie Grame. The couple stayed in Chula Vista while working for the Sunkist packing plant on K Street, where they learned what worked and did not work for many grocery buying strategies.

The Boney family had also founded the Arizona-based natural market, Sprouts. In early 2011, it was announced that Sprouts and Henry’s would be merging into one market. Sprouts is still a staple market in Chula Vista, and participates in yearly parades, hosts educational contests for elementary school students and prioritizes selling produce from local sellers when possible.

Summer Sundays

Continues at Village Walk

Village Walk’s popular Summer Sundays event continues throughout June along with three Sundays in July. Experience a different band and car club each Sunday from 5 to 7 pm along with special activities for children including free balloon sculptures, face painting, and creative craft activities where kids can decorate terra cotta pots, picture frames with shells and gems, ladybug rocks, cups with picture inserts and mini ceramic dinosaur planters.. Everyone attending Summer Sundays can enjoy the food and product samples provided by Village Walk businesses.

Bands performing this year include 3 Car Garage, Breez’n, Graceland’s Elvis Tribune Band, Steal Dawn and Lady J & Soulful Knights.. Participating car clubs include Porsche’s, Model A’s, Antique Motorcycles, MG’s as well as Pick Ups and Cruisers. For additional information regarding this free, familyfriendly event at Village Walk, and for a list of all special events taking place at Village Walk in 2023, visit the center’s website at www.ShopVillageWalk.com.

Breez’n performs at Village Walk on June 25 and the children’s craft activity is a picture frame that can be decorated with shells and gems.