Farren Williams, the man who has kept the city of Ceres' information technology needs going for close to a quarter of a century, retired last week over a light reception that included cake, pastries, Aram sandwiches, mixed nuts and fresh fruit.

Williams was hired 24 years ago by the late Police Chief Pete Peterson to build an IT department for the Ceres Police. It grew from there and eventually became the IT Department for the entire city operation, with Williams as the manager overseeing three IT specialists. The IT Department has always been housed at the Police Department Building and they are as much a part of the Police Department as any other employee.

Approximately 75 persons were in attendance at Williams' party, including wife Carol, son Kevin and his brothers, Mike and Tom. Former Ceres Police Deputy Chief Mike Borges, who is now the Escalon Police Chief, and former Deputy City Manager Sheila Cumberland attended.

Besides buying all the goodies for the party, employees chipped together and presented Williams with a retirement gift of a firearm he has been wanting, along with some ammunition, an extra clip and a Visa gift card.

Before he was hired by the city, Williams had been a sports and government reporter for the Ceres Courier.