Eli Ramirez contributed so much to the history of Union City. He is one of the threads in the city's tapestry that made Union City as it is today. As one of the earlier people who came to Union City during the days where there were only acres and acres of empty lands, he toiled hard to pave way to a better and beautiful Union City.

Eli Ramirez was born on August 27, 1927 and his wife Juanita, on June 30, 1927. Both of them are 72 years old now and enjoying the fruits of their labor. They gave six children to the world, Eli, Jr., Martha, Rosie and Armando, (deceased), Robert, (deceased,) and Lily (deceased.) Together they have 21 grandchildren and several great and great great grandchildren. Originally from Texas, they came to Union City in 1944. They got married the same year and and they will be celebrating their 55th year of marriage soon.

Coming to Union City, Eli said that he sacrificed living in a chicken coupe at 6th Street in Decoto because during those times, there were very few rental homes. He stayed there for seven months.

After getting out of the U. S. Navy in 1944, he started working for the Pacific States Steel as a laborer. He built layers and layers of bricks. He retired after 30 years in 1974 and is now getting social security disability retirement.

He said that people who came that time to work for the Pacific States Steel were mostly people from Texas. His father and brother also worked there. He remembers that they employed mostly women during that time but they let them go after the war was over.

His wife Juanita, who worked in the fields, too, remembers the vast areas of greens. They picked cauliflowers, apricots, and tomatoes

The Ramirez' now live in San Juan Street in the very first development called Casa Verde. When the first two blocks were built by the developer, he custom-built his four bedroom house in 1960. He boasts that it only cost him around $27,000. That is not the only house he owns; he has two more homes in Decoto and one house in Niles.

His favorite past time is watching TV and going to Reno. They are members of St. Anne Catholic Church.

They reminisce the old Decoto as nice and quiet. There was no police that time; the police came from Hayward.

At present, Eli Ramirez goes around with his cowboy hat, cowboy attire and complete with his cowboy boots. ``This is the old Texan from far away Texas,'' he said mimicking a native Texan.

.......and yes, he is also waiting for the benefit that he will receive from the Pacific States Steel. He just hopes that he is still alive when it comes.