Charles Uhalley ends 41 yrs on the Chaffey HS district board

ONTARIO, CA – Forty-one years, eight months and five days after his first election to the Chaffey Joint Union High School Board of Trustees, Charles Uhalley officially retired Tuesday night, ending one of the longest current tenures among elected leaders in the Inland Empire.

At his final board meeting, with family, friends, teachers and staff in attendance, Uhalley was recognized for his steadfast commitment to quality education, fiscal responsibility, leadership and community input. During his more than four decades of service, Uhalley saw the district raise $976 million in bonds and helped oversee the building of four high schools. He attended 1,027 school board meetings, 84 graduations and 267 back-to-school nights, and his signature was affixed to 142,084 graduate diplomas.

“It has been a pleasure beyond words to serve with you. You have taught us so much,” said Board President Sue Ovitt, one of 16 board members with whom Uhalley served since his election ion March 1977. “The time you have spent for kids, teachers, administrators and the District will never be forgotten. You will be missed.”

Said Chaffey District Superintendent Dr. Mathew Holton, “No individual has had more of an impact in the more than 100-year history of the Chaffey District. You always wanted us to protect the dreams of all students who attended the district. You made us do it right.”

A lawyer by trade, Uhalley has been in private practice since 1975. He has a bachelors degree from the University of California Riverside and a law degree from the La Verne Law College. He has served on the County Executive Committee and is a California School Board Association Delegate.

Uhalley and his wife, Connie, a retired school teacher, have two daughters who both graduated from the Chaffey District and five grandchildren.

“It was an honor and privilege to serve this District for 42 years, and I will take these memories with me the rest of my life,” Uhalley said. “My biggest source of pride is that we built this into the greatest high school district in California under any measure.”