Biography

I am the oldest child of an Air Force Sergeant and a school teacher mother, Hubert and Mary Elizabeth Walsh. My parents, brother, sister, and I lived near several Air Force bases through out the country before moving to Merced in 1967.

I graduated from Merced High School and went on to Merced College. I graduated from Merced College with an A.A. and transferred to UC Berkeley, where I received a B.A.in psychology and sociology. After my graduation, I did a tour of duty in the US Army serving most of my enlistment at Ft. Lewis, Washington. During my time at Ft. Lewis, I earned a master’s degree in social sciences from Pacific Lutheran University.

Following my service in the Army, I returned to Merced and married my college sweetheart, Rita Joyce Arzamendi, whom I am still married to 36 years later.

The year we married I began working for Merced County, I worked in several areas of county government for 25 years: Merced Community Medial Center (the county hospital); the Community Action Agency; and (much of this time) the Human Services Agency.
In 1995, I ran for City Council and was elected. I continued to serve in elected city service for two terms on City Council and two terms as Mayor of Merced.

Volunteer Work

United Way Board of Directors,
Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse,
Federal Emergency Management Act Coordinating Committee,
Merced County Refugee Forum,
Merced County Advisory Board on Drug Programs,
Merced County Mental Health Advisory Board,
City of Merced Affordable Housing Task Force,
City of Merced Recreation and Parks Commission,
Merced County At Risk Youth Coordinating Committee,
Merced City Schools Citizens' Advisory Council Castle
Air Force Base Reuse ,
Merced Workforce Development Committee,
and the UC Merced Committee.

Special Honors

Hub was honored in 1997 to be selected as one of Merced College’s Outstanding Alumni during its 35th Anniversary Celebration.