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 Tracy CHP officer Robert Rickman (left) and Defense Depot San Joaquin fireman Ellis Archerda talk with American Legion Post 172’s George Kelly about winning law officer and fire officer of the year for the Central Valley area in a state competition. This is the first year two officers nominated by the post have both won. Glenn Moore/Our Town Ellis Archerda III, 37, a firefighter at Defense Depot San Joaquin in Lathrop, has been named Fire Officer of the Year, and officer Robert Rickman, 34, of the California Highway Patrol, has been awarded Law Officer of the Year for the Tracy area by the American Legion’s Department of California Law and Order Commission.
Both were introduced by their commanding officers and selected by a committee of judges.
“I feel elated, ecstatic and quite humbled,” Archerda said. “It’s quite an honor, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wife, my fire chief and the whole fire department.”
Archerda was responsible for revamping the depot’s hazardous materials program, setting up a mobile hazmat trailer and training his peers to use equipment.
“All year long, he’s been our go-to guy,” said Chief A.E. Dail at the Tracy Depot. “He’s done an outstanding job for us and his country.”
On top of his duties as a fireman, Archerda is a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and has served four tours of duty in the Middle East since 1992.
Rickman was chosen as Law Officer of the Year for implementing several new community programs, including Start Smart, with a focus on safe teenage driving, the Right Term program, which promotes drunken driving and drug awareness, and Sober Graduation for West High.
“It’s a humbling experience,” Rickman said. “It’s an honor to be nominated and win an award.”
A 2001 Tracy High School graduate, Brianna received her diploma with a major in English and a minor in journalism. Megan, a 2004 Tracy High graduate, received her diploma cum laude in English.
Brianna, who worked as a reporting intern at the Tracy Press in 2002, has worked full time while attending school part time and is the editor of the Dixon Tribune.
Megan is a graduate student at CSU Sacramento pursuing her teaching credential. Upon earning her credential,
Megan plans to join Americorps before embarking on a teaching career.
They join brother Jacob Boyd, a 2002 graduate of Tracy High, who earned his degree from CSU Stanislaus in May 2007 with a major in criminal justice. He has been hired as an alternative-education teacher for San Joaquin County, and he coaches football and wrestling at Tracy High. Ben and Donna Boyd of Tracy say they are proud of their children and look forward to seeing them succeed in their careers.
Hughes, an 18-year-old graduate of Tracy High, has participated in 10 junior rodeos and has been riding horses since the age of 6. Nowadays, she gives riding lessons to her 8-year-old cousin, Abigail.
This is her first time in the Stockton Rodeo Queen contest.
“A rodeo queen is someone who can be a role model and represent rodeo well at the same time,” Hughes explained. “I’m not nervous. I’m pretty used to it. It fits my personality well.”
Last Saturday, the 13 contestants went in front of a panel of judges. Each potential queen had an oral exam and interview and then performed a pattern in which contenders showed off their horsemanship skills.
“At the end, we did the famous queen wave,” Hughes said.
The winner of the pageant receives a horse trailer, horse accessories and a scholarship. The finale will be July 25 to crown the new queen and two runners-up.
Hughes attends San Joaquin Delta College and is in her fourth semester. She is interested in studying either animal or human physical therapy. • Accolades runs in Our Town whenever we hear about someone who has done something extraordinary and deserves kudos for it. If you have some news for Accolades, send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or drop off a note at the Tracy Press. Feel free to include a photo of the person.
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