Arne Digerud

Mr. Digerud, who was born in Norway, owned an auto parts store in Fairfield and helped found the city's Chamber of Commerce in 1947. He spent 14 years in public office as a city councilman and mayor at a time of extraordinary growth for Fairfield. He lobbied military officials to bring sprawling Travis Air Force Base into city limits, where it could contribute tax revenue. He also helped broker a deal to bring water into Fairfield from Lake Berryessa and presided over the annexation of nearby Cordelia. In 1994, Mr. Digerud helped form the Arne/Ann Digerud Endowment Fund for Alzheimer's Patients at Northbay Healthcare.

"He loved Fairfield," said another former mayor, Shirley Smith, who served with Mr. Digerud on the City Council in the 1960s. "His attitude was that it had been good to him and he wanted to work for its best and he wanted to give something back to it. He worked tirelessly to do that. He did some great things for the city of Fairfield.