Former Mayor Richard O. “Dick” Hastie credits what he calls “outstanding teachers” at Tracy High School with preparing him for more than half a century of public service in Tracy.

Hastie, a 1947 graduate of Tracy High, made his comments Saturday evening, April 30, after being named Tracy High Alumni of the Year by the Tracy High Alumni Club.

“Teachers such as science teacher Ken ‘Spider’ Westlake — and we called him ‘Spider,’ and he loved it — math teacher Mary Hawley, history teacher L.B. Moore and English teacher Mrs. B — Emma Baumgardner — all had a positive impact on my life,” he said.

Hastie recalled that he delivered milk for Alaska Dairy early each morning before going to school and sometimes fell asleep in Mrs. B’s English class.

“She told me if I would write two book reports a month, she wouldn’t dock me for falling asleep,” he said. “I loved to read, and I did those book reports. And for years afterwards, Mrs. B would call me and suggest books to read.”

Hastie was acknowledged for his service as mayor in 1969-72 in getting a new City Hall financed and built. He was also Tracy’s first directly elected mayor in 1968-88, when the residential and industrial growth plans were completed and he launched the Sister City program with Memuro, Japan.

Also cited was his central role in raising funds and getting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tracy’s principal site on Lowell Avenue built and completed in 1979.

During the annual asparagus and tri-tip dinner held by the Tracy High Alumni Club in the new Tracy High cafeteria, college scholarships were awarded to four Tracy High seniors:

• Casey Wichman, active in the ag science program and a teacher’s aide for the leadership class who was quarterback on the Bulldog football and winner of the Peter B. Kyne Trophy as the team’s most-valuable player.

• Devin Nicholson, graduating with a 3.67 GPA in the ag-science program, who was staff-recognition commissioner and all-conference member of the Tracy High girls’ golf team.

• Kyle Petrucelli, who has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the International Baccalaureate and ag-science programs and who ran cross country and track as team captain and also played basketball.

• Rena Pombo, who was president of the Tracy High FFA Chapter and was a member of Bulldog water polo and swim teams while active in St. Bernard’s Catholic Church Youth Group and an exhibitor at the San Joaquin County Fair.