Our History of Friendship

Late in 1958, the officials of the city and Port of Shimizu, Japan proposed to the officials of the Port of Stockton who were visiting in Japan, that the two cities become affiliated. This proposal was relayed to the City Council of Stockton by Port Director Elmo Ferrari, following which almost a year was consumed in study and investigation. By agreement, October 16, 1959 was established as the beginning of the week as "Sister City Week," and in Shimizu by special ceremonies attended by Mayor and Mrs. Dean DeCarli and Mel Bennett, City Editor of the Stockton Record, and Mrs. Bennett representing the City.

At the time of the establishment of the first Sister City in 1959, a Mayor's Sister City Committee was named by Mayor Dean DeCarli to provide guidance and suggestions with respect to the Sister City program. The annual change in mayors and the lack of structure and continuity to the Committee led in early 1963 to the calling of the meeting by then Mayor Elmer Boss to discuss the possibility of setting up a nonprofit corporation as Sister City Committee. Two months and three meetings later, the group accepted Mayor Boss' suggestion that he appoint a committee of nine people to file the Articles of Incorporation for the Sister City Committee. With the legal direction of Assistant City Attorney Elwyn Johnson, the Sister City Commission was brought into being on August 21, 1963. Six more commissioners were added to the original nine members making a total of fifteen. Ten years later to clarify the situation, the organization changed its name from "Commission" to "Association" and increased the number of Board Members to eighteen.

The Stockton Sister Cities Association currently known as the "Stockton Sister Cities Association" is active with seven Sister Cities in Europe, Asia, Central America, and Africa. Personal visits, cultural and educational exchanges, exhibits from local industry and art exchanges, exhibits from local industry and art exchanges are just some of the activities that keep members of the association busy.

In 1965 and in 1980 Stockton's program was honored at the annual conventions of Sister Cities International by being given the Reader's Digest Foundation award for two times as the best overall Sister City program for cities of its population class.