Representatives from the City of South San Francisco, the South San Francisco Public Library, Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s office, and South San Francisco Unified School District gathered at the Community Learning Center on August 12 to rededicate the building in honor of former California Assembly Member and South San Francisco High School teacher Gene Mullin.
Also present was Mullin’s son, Kevin, who currently serves as assembly speaker pro tempore in the state assembly and is running to replace Congresswoman Speier, who plans to retire from her post in Washington, DC after seven terms.
“While my father has physically left us, his memory will endure here at this site and in the lives of the young people he taught, coached, nurtured, and inspired to engage in our democracy,” said Kevin Mullin. “And for the generations to come will benefit from the good works of this center."
Gene Mullin taught social studies at South San Francisco High School for 32 years, where he also coached basketball and became famous for having his students attend South San Francisco city council meetings.
Among his former students who spoke at the event was current South San Francisco Mayor Mark Nagales, who attributed his subsequent career in public service to the elder Mullin.“It was because of this experience of going to the city council meetings is where I first saw that one person can make a profound impact on our community and make a difference,” said Nagales.
SSFUSD School Board President John Baker relayed how he had first met Mullin in 2001 when the then-mayor of South San Francisco interviewed him for an opening on the South San Francisco Library’s board of trustees.
“After he retired, Gene was to become well-known as a council member, mayor, and assembly member, but when I think of him, I think of him as a teacher,” Baker said. “Because Gene gave so much to this community’s schools and also so much to his local government, it’s very appropriate that the Community Learning Center as a joint city and school facility is being named after him.”
In a written statement, Congresswoman Jackie Speier added: “I salute the City of South San Francisco for dedicating the center to Gene and to his impact in South San Francisco. From schools to public policy, from one generation to the next, if you know the history of Gene Mullin, you can see the impact all around. Now, we’ll be able to see it here in the center in the eyes of small kids.”
Mullin joined the South San Francisco city council in 1995, serving as mayor in 1998 and 2002 and as a state assembly member from 2002 to 2008.
