The Manteca City Council on Tuesday, November 16th, considered and approved the name change requested by the Boys & Girls Club board.

Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Charlie Halford said the club requested to see the park named in the Giles’ honor for all that they did on behalf of the club and other community non-profits.

Giles served on the founding board and over the course of their lifetime the couple donated close to $500,000 to help provide programs for kids in Manteca and Lathrop. Both also worked the club’s major fundraisers including the now defunct Monday bingo, the telethon, and crab feeds. The couple was also active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Charlie was a member of the Manteca Rotary.

Giles was previously inducted into the Manteca Hall of Fame for his successful effort as a businessman and civic-minded community member.

“Manteca City Council has approved the renaming of a Park in our city, from Bay Meadows Park to "Bobette and Charlie Giles Memorial Park". These folks were the founders of our company and my parents, they were very involved in the Manteca Boys and Girls Club and supported it financially then and now. This is a Special honor for two very special people that were very committed to their community. Congratulations on a very proud day in MVE's history”, says Scott Blevins, President, Mountain Valley Express.

Giles founded Mountain Valley Express in 1967. He started with one truck specializing in less than truckload hauling. His big break came when Dana Corp. called him to haul freight. He didn’t have a truck available so he rented a U-Haul and backed the small truck up next to the loading docks at Dana right next to large trucks from more established carriers. His spunk impressed Dana and Mountain Valley Express was on the move.

Mountain Valley Express today has 320 employees, 400 pieces of equipment, nine locations, and annual revenues of $26 million.

To read more in the Manteca Bulletin website, click here.