Mr. Sonora Receives Ceremonial Bench Outside City Hall

Photo by: BJ Hansen

Sonora, CA — Ron Stearn served 52 years on the Sonora City Council and five times as Mayor, garnering the nickname Mr. Sonora.

He passed away in February at the age of 89. This week members of the Sonora Rotary Club dedicated a bench in honor of Stearn outside of Sonora City Hall. A plaque reads, “Ronald E. Stearn, Mr. Sonora, July 22, 1928 – February 6, 2018, Longest Serving City Council Member & Mayor.”

Members of Stearn’s family were on hand for the dedication.

Stearn is remembered as a very likable straight shooter who always had a story to tell, loved the city, and was a go-to-source for any questions about its history. He was sworn into office in April of 1964 and he retired in 2016.