Chowchilla declares February 26 “Edward Ray Day” as a bus driver who was kidnapped

The victim of the kidnapping of Chowchilla from 1976, including bus driver Ed Ray, ran on a parade on August 23, 1976 that celebrates their rescue.

A Central Valley City honors a deceased bus driver for his heroic actions in a notorious hostage situation.

The city of Chowchilla proclaimed Edward Ray Day for his actions on Wednesday, February 26, after he and a school bus with 26 children disappeared almost 50 years ago.

February 26, 1921 was Ray's birthday. He died on May 17, 2012.

On July 15, 1976, three armed men kidnapped a school bus and kidnapped the day, and all children on the bus he drove and locked them up in a truck trailer in a quarry in Livermore.

The day was 55 years old at the time and helped the children to flee after 16 hours of imprisonment.

Day became a hero when the history made national headlines. The story recently gained attention with the publication of “Chowchilla”, a CNN documentary in which the ordeal was described.

The day that was described as a private, hard -working man was reportedly embarrassed by the media.

A granite monument that is dedicated to the victims is located next to the Chowchilla Police Department to mark the children with their families.

On February 26, 2015, the city renewed its largest park in Edward Ray Park and dedicated it.

The perpetrators of the bus high and the kidnapping were James Schoenfeld, Richard Schoenfeld and Frederick Newhall Woods IV and were convicted in 1977.

All three were based on probation from 2022.

Chowchilla cattle business Friday, February 28th

The annual Chowchilla Cattle Drive returns to Robertson Boulevard this Friday at 10 a.m.
In 1958, the official kick -off of Chowchilla Stampede marked on the Chowchilla Fairgrounds until March 2.

Hundreds of lines Main Street to observe local cattle breeders and their herds on a cattle business to celebrate Chowchilla's deep agricultural roots and to take the stage for a weekend with community ceremony.

The spectators are encouraged to get the Robertson Boulevard early to catch the campaign. The weekend events include many team rope activities that attract candidates from all over the west of the United States.