Public service icon, Peter Towne, dies

An iconic pubic figure of the Willows community has died.

Dr. Peter M. Towne died at his Willows apartment and was discovered by a close friend early Thursday, authorities reported.

He was 75.

"In many ways Peter was a town patriarch," said veteran Willows councilman Vince Holvik, who served with Towne on the council for many years.

A highly regarded optometrist, politician and community servant, Towne served as Willows' mayor seven times between 1967 until his retirement from public life last year, when his health forced him to step down.

"He was a dynamic community leader and one of a kind," said Mayor Gary Hansen.

Towne was part of nearly every major development project in Willows over the last five decades.

He was president of the city redevelopment agency when the Willows Mall was built on Tehama Street. He was on the City Council that commissioned the construction of Willows City Hall, which houses the Police Department and library.

Towne was heavily involved in a variety of clubs, charities and political entities, including the city Planning Commission, the Willows Unified School District board, the Boy Scouts of America, Willows Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce.

Many had hoped he would be named Grand Marshal of the Willows Lamb Derby after his retirement, which was a local tradition Towne always enjoyed.

Friends and associates described Towne as "kind," "generous," "extremely intelligent," and "hyper dedicated."

"Everything he did, he did full bore," commented Jamie Millen, who worked with Towne on the Chamber of Commerce. "He would get really, really into things."

"I always appreciated the fact that you always knew where you stood with Peter," Hansen said. "He was never afraid to say exactly what he thought."

In fact, Towne's direct manner offended some who took issue with the City Council over the years. Some accused him of not listening thoroughly to his constituents at times and was frequently described as "stubborn."

For someone with a large public reputation, Towne could be an intensely private man, giving away very few personal details.

Towne is widely credited for reanimating the Willows Museum, which had fallen into disrepair over the years. Financial hardships nearly forced the museum to close during the 1990s, but Towne reportedly kept its doors open himself, personally paying the bills and running the day-to-day operations.

After the museum received a small windfall of money several years ago, Towne and several others reorganized the museum Board of Directors and cleaned and organized the building.

"It looked more like a pile of junk before they went to work on it," said Carlton Wright, who along with his wife, Jo Ann, served with Towne on the museum board.

"I think the museum was probably one of his favorite projects," Jo Ann Wright said.

Towne announced his retirement from public life in June of last year, saying it was simply time for him to move on.

Towne was honored by the city in November during his final council meeting. He was given a proclamation that heaped praise on the man who many have been described as Willows only political institution.

"He served the city in a fair, honest and open manner, always voting his conscience as to what he believed best for the citizens of Willows, which has been not only to his credit, but a significant benefit for the city," the proclamation states.

In one of his last public statements, Towne said he was not sure what his greatest achievement was, but said he simply loved his various roles in public service and said he was leaving without any regrets.

"It has been a great, glorious, productive ride," Towne wrote.