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The Online Home of California's Political History

January 5, 2012 By Alex Vassar Leave a Comment

Senator Ruben Ayala died

Ruben S. Ayala

Former State Senator Ruben Ayala died Wednesday night in Ontario. A report in the Sacramento Bee noted that Ayala had fought a long illness. Ayala, who served in the Senate from 1974-1998, was the long-time Chair of the Agriculture and Water Committee, a powerful position that he used to draft a bill authorizing the construction of a peripheral canal through the Sacramento Delta.

Senior staffers at the Capitol noted that Ayala (who served in World War II) had been active in the Legislative Marine Brigade, a group of former Marines who had served in the legislature. Other members of the group included Pete Wilson, Bill Craven, and Don Rogers.

LINK: Sacramento Bee CapitolAlert obituary

Filed Under: Current Research, Deaths, State Senate

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