I Remember

Like many small towns in California, Livermore underwent a rapid change during the last half of the 20th century. The establishment of a National Laboratory there in 1952 was but one part of the shift from a small community centered on ranches and vineyards. John Shirley played an important role in guiding those changes, serving in appointed and then elected offices of the city. Here he tells the story of his involvement with the planning of the community that is today Livermore: the sewers and streets, the Rodeo, the Civic Center, the start of redevelopment that made possible the present downtown.