Gilroy resident Robert Boykin recalls when the city was vast
strawberry fields and prune orchards. When his family was looking
for a quieter way of life to raise their children and animals they
moved to Gilroy in 1979 when he was in the fourth grade. And he has
stayed to raise his family.
Gilroy resident Robert Boykin recalls when the city was vast strawberry fields and prune orchards. When his family was looking for a quieter way of life to raise their children and animals they moved to Gilroy in 1979 when he was in the fourth grade. And he has stayed to raise his family.
Married, he and his wife Ronda are raising three young children in much the same way he was raised in what he refers to as a great place to call home.
Boykin looks back at his childhood as an idyllic time.
”I lived in Milpitas until I was 9 years old,” Boykin said. ”It was a community in transition. Gilroy was much smaller (and) my parents were looking for a place with more space. We had horses, I liked that I got to be around animals. I was just a regular kid, I liked to shoot my BB gun and play in the dirt.”
Boykin attended Las Animas Elementary School, South Valley Junior High and Gilroy High School, where he became interested in raising animals and showing them at the county fair.
”I raised pigeons, sheep and dairy,” he said. ”I met my wife, Ronda, at the Santa Clara County Fair!” His wife grew up in San Martin, one town over but their paths didn’t cross until the chance meeting at the fair.
”Ronda’s family has been in the area for more than 100 years,” he said. ”She was a real 4-H-er!”
His parents eventually moved to Hollister to have more room for their animals, and Ronda’s family is nearby. Her brother lives four blocks away.
Boykin works for New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., a joint venture of General Motors Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation, located in Fremont. He is one of 5,500 team members who produce three award-winning vehicles, the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Tacoma and Pontiac Vibe. His father also works at NUMMI.
”I took the easy way,” Robert laughed. ”My dad worked there when it was General Motors. (Now) I’ve been there 15 years. I work in overseas and North American body shop parts manufacturing.
Boykin has always enjoyed working with cars, and said he’d be working on hobby cars at home too if he had spare time. But that’s hard to come by raising three active children; Joshua who is 7 years old, Emily who is 4, and 19-month-old Tanner.
The family’s schedule is a whirlwind of homework and sports activities. Boykin coaches Joshua’s baseball team, and Emily is on a local t-ball team.
”Tanner would love to be out there playing something and he can’t wait to get a little older,” said the proud father.
”I love playing sports, and baseball is a sport I’ve always been into.” Boykin said. ”My family really likes being active and outside.”
When they aren’t playing baseball and raising their animals, the family enjoys spending weekends camping or visiting the animals on their grandparent’s farm.
”Gilroy has grown a lot since I moved here,” Boykin recalled. ”I can remember riding from my home in Gilroy to my friend’s house on Pacheco Pass. We are happy to be a part of the Gilroy community; my kids still have the country environment to keep them grounded.”
