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Ormond W. Eckley, who was known to many as General Alfred Pleasonton, died Oct. 31 at the age of 83.

He also served many times as General Alfred Pleasonton for the Pleasanton Downtown Association even when he was in ill health. He was very proud of his exact replica of the general’s uniform which now resides in the Museum On Main.

He took on the name “Pleasonton,” which was the way the general spelled his name. A telegraph operator mistakenly changed the spelling to “Pleasanton” in a wired transdmission establishing the city’s official name, and that spelling became the registered name.

Mr. Eckley was born Nov. 25, 1924 in Vancouver, British Columbia into a family that had long served in the Canadian Royal Air Force. He served in the Canadian Forces during World War II. He then moved to the United States in 1946, working at the Lakeview Creamery in Lakeview, Ore., learning the dairy trade. After going to Oregon Technical College in Klamath Falls, he worked as a mechanic.

He received his U.S. citizenship in 1953 and has since considered this country as being his home. He moved to the Bay Area and met the love of his life, Beverly, on May 25, 1962 on a blind date to the pops concert at the Scottish Rites Temple in Oakland. They were married Jan. 27, 1963.

In his spare time, Mr. Eckley followed the footsteps of his great-grandfather who was a senator in Ohio, but resigned his position to serve in the Union Army under Ulysses S. Grant. He was interested in weaponry and Civil War history, belonging to six Civil War Round Tables and participated in re-enactments for 25 years playing many personalities from both sides of the war.

He also served many times as General Alfred Pleasonton for the Pleasanton Downtown Association even when he was in ill health. He was very proud of his exact replica of the general’s uniform which now resides in the Museum On Main.

Mr. Eckley belonged to other organizations including E. Clampus Vitis, General Alfred Pleasonton’s Chapter 24, Sons of Union Veterans, Masonic Lodge No. 218 and Sons in Retirement. He worked with the Livermore-Amador Symphony Guild, Valley Choral Chorale and the Pleasanton Community Concert Band. He was on hand with the city when they dedicated the library, the museum and at their 100th birthday celebration.

He routinely gave speeches in schools in the Pleasanton and Livermore area and throughout California on Civil War history, personalities, and medicine.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Beverly; and daughter, Victoria Maher (Brandt) from a previous marriage. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 15 at Trinity Baptist Church, 557 Olivina Ave. in Livermore.

Ormond W. Eckley

Ormond W. Eckley

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  1. In his costumed role as General Pleasonton, Ormand Eckley added a special bit of local color to our community Fourth of July celebration for most of the 10 years it has been held at Lions Wayside Park. No matter how sweltering the weather, Mr. Eckley would proudly don his authentic replica uniform, bringing to life our history, reminding us how this town’s name was altered by a clerk misspelling the general’s name and thereby inadvertently depriving him of the intended honor. Even when he had to use a walker, Mr. Eckley still was a tresured member of the audience “Celebrating Freedom and its Evolution since the Revolution.”

  2. I never met Mr. Eckley, but I applaud his service to keeping alive the history of our home, Pleasanton. He serves as an example to the rest of us that we should know our history, because to forget our history is at our own peril.

  4. Once upon a time, we had a hardware store in Pleasanton in The Rose Pavilion Shopping Center called Simon’s. I worked there and so did Ormand. He was a jovial and kind man, who enjoyed sharing his expertise on the job. I thought it was such a kick that he played that role as General Pleasanton each year. I’m sure he will be missed by all his friends, relatives, and the people of Pleasanton. I know that we missed him when he retired from working at Simon’s.

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