KEITH ROBERT WELCH

1944 ~ 2010

After a year-long struggle with cancer, Keith Welch passed on the evening of June 9, 2010. Keith was at home in the care of his wife, Linda, in McKinleyville, California. Keith's larger family includes his mother Irma Welch, his sister Colleen Amabile and his daughter Katie Kilgore. He is also survived by five grandchildren Anton Folland, Lily Kilgore, Jake Wirtz and Daniel and Rachel Schwall.

Keith was born in 1944 in Los Banos, California.. He was an Eagle Scout and grew up hunting, fishing and working outside around the Los Banos area. He had a deep love for the small town, the farming oriented life of Los Banos and the surrounding currents of the agricultural economy and natural resource issues of the Central Valley. Keith also loved the family cabin at Yosemite where he visited frequently throughout his life. He developed an enduring attachment to that fabled part of the California landscape.

He graduated in History and Political Science from San Francisco State University in 1966. He started work in Sacramento for the California State Employees Association where he broke into lobbying and legislative policy work. With his roots in Los Banos, his transition to being a lobbyist and political consultant for the California Farm Bureau was a natural and happy one. He was very successful in the political life of Sacramento and eventually formed his own firm. He managed many campaigns for members of the California State Legislature and was the Director of the California Reagan/Bush campaign for President in 1984. He also worked tirelessly on Governor George Deukmejian's campaign in 1982 and headed up his transition team on Agriculture. Additionally, Keith directed the public relations campaign for Traffic Safety Now which dramatically increased seatbelt usage in California and served as a political consultant for Mike Amabile during his twelve years as Mayor of Los Banos. Keith traveled extensively throughout both the large cities and small rural towns of California. He loved California and knew it like few people ever do.

In 2000, he retired to the North Coast of California with his wife Linda and her mother. There they built a beautiful home with views of Humboldt Bay and the Pacific that provided great enjoyment for a number of good years before his illnesses. They continued to travel frequently in California to see family and grandchildren and to simply enjoy the richly faceted State of California that was so much a part of his life. Keith was a passionate lover of freedom, a great patriot, a loving father and grandfather, and a proud American.

Family and friends are invited to gather to remember Keith on August 15th at 2:00 p.m. at Espana's Restaurant, 1460 E Pacheco Blvd., Los Banos, CA.