Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor a community friend. Gene Benedetti. of Petaluma. CA. who died on January 13. 2006. Genes larger than life personality. his generosity. civic pride. and business leadership will be greatly missed. Gene was bom in a small Sonoma County farmhouse in 1919. He was the youngest child of Italian immigrants. whose family labored in the ranching traditions of rural Northern California. A gifted student and talented athlete. Gene excelled in every subject while attending Petaluma High School. Santa Rosa Junior College. and the University of San Francisco. He was a legend on the football field throughout his college career. and later helped establish and coach the Petaluma Leghoms. a powerhouse semipro football team that dominated the Bay Area leagues that existed in the 1940s and 50s.
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