Three times does seem to be the charm for the Bordona family.

This past May, the family celebrated the third generation of Bordona’s to graduate from Oakdale High School.

In a town steeped in history, with many families boasting multiple generations graduating from OHS, what makes their story interesting is the span of 35 years in between each graduate.

Well known longtime community member and business owner Bob Bordona was the first, graduating in 1955. He was followed by son Ron Bordona, 35 years later in 1990, and rounding out the trio was Robert Bordona in 2025.

Ron shared he was the first to realize it as they sat in the stands of The Corral in late May, for his son’s high school graduation. Sending a text to his mom, Phyllis, he mentioned it had been 35 years since they were there for his graduation.

“I teased her, you know, a Bordona graduates every 35 years, we’re not really populating the world,” Ron said, laughing. “I think most families have a little closer increments like every 20 years or something and we’re doing it every 35.”

As the family gathered recently to reminisce on the uniqueness, the changes and the memories, they couldn’t help but sing the praises of the most recent graduate, Robert.

The youngest Bordona currently attends California Aeronautical University in Bakersfield where he is studying to be a pilot. His career aspirations are to complete the program and become a commercial pilot.

According to Ron, the family looked at several four-year colleges, some which offered the traditional college experience, as well as the opportunity for Robert to play golf while at school. Yet the 2025 OHS grad was drawn to the Bakersfield school and its program, which breaks for two weeks out of each year. The year-round approach will have him completing his four-year education in three years’ time.

“We’re real proud of him,” Bob said of his only grandchild.

“He said I get to retire earlier if I do Bakersfield,” Ron added of his son’s decision. “Looking at us, because we never retire. That’s not part of what we do.”

Ron shared that his son wanted to get started with a pilot career, noting this choice will make him among the youngest of commercial pilots once he completes the program.

The family further shared that while pursuing his goal and dream job, Robert starts each day with classes as early at 5:30 a.m. and stays busy throughout the day.

“The thing that impressed me, was he knew what he wanted to do early on,” Bob stated, noting his grandson was certain of his career goal in his junior year. “I didn’t know that; all I wanted to do was play sports and go to a small college. Robert knew two years ago what he wanted. That impressed us. Robert was set; he wanted to be a commercial pilot.”

While the three men share the similarity of attending and completing Oakdale High, the youngest’s pursuit of an aeronautical career ends the tradition there. He is the first of the three not to attend University of La Verne in La Verne, California.

Bob, the eldest of the Bordona men, was the first to attend in the fall of 1955. He graduated after four years and returned to Riverbank with his college sweetheart, Phyllis. They were married the summer of 1959.

At the time Bob attended Oakdale High, it was the only high school for Oakdale, Riverbank and Waterford. Bob’s family resided in Riverbank where they originally opened a grocery store and later added appliances, the original “Bordona’s” known now primarily as a furniture store.

“We came because we heard Hershey was coming to town,” Bob recalled, chuckling, of the family’s expansion to Oakdale in 1962. “It was going to be a boom town.”

Two years later, the couple built the home they still reside in.

“I said then, we’re not moving ever again and we haven’t,” Bob said regarding their home.

During his time at OHS, Bob was President of the Boys Club, vice president of his class, active in basketball, baseball and the school band.

“I like basketball, but I love baseball,” Bob shared. “Baseball, it’s a challenge, when you’re a batter you got that pitcher, he wants to get you out and you want to get a hit. It’s more one on one. I enjoyed hitting. I wasn’t a great hitter, but I had a fair share.”

Bob played catcher for the OHS baseball team and then went on to do the same at college. Today, at 88, he continues to play golf, as one of the original members of Oakdale Golf and Country Club. He started playing in 1962 and joined OGCC shortly after they opened.

“I’m one of the original members, there’s three or four of us still living,” Bob said.

Golf would be where son Ron, would find his home, athletically speaking. The only child of the Bordona’s shared while at OHS he tried his hand at football, basketball and golf. Realizing pretty quickly golf was his best fit, he went on to play at college as well.

While at OHS, he was also active in leadership, was class vice president and played in the band as well.

Returning from college to the family business was always the plan for the eldest of the three, yet for Ron it came after exploration of his interest in becoming a financial planner while still living in Southern California.

Ron shared he quickly learned the field was not he expected and said it was the wisdom of longtime family friend and then-Bordona’s Furniture General Manager, the late Bill Salles, which helped him make the decision to return.

“Bill worked it out to where we added on an outlet and that’s where I started,” Ron said, noting that his grandfather (and founder) Mike Bordona would work with him each day at the outlet.

“There were a lot of little lamps he would put together and he did vacuum repair,” Ron said. “He was very, very handy and mechanical. He would work ‘til about lunch. He’d say it’s time to go get lunch. I’d take him to go get lunch and that would be it for the day.”

In time, Ron would move to the main store and his dad Bob retired, though he still goes in on occasion to help fill in.

As the two reflect on their time at OHS, they are both equally grateful for the relationships built while attending school there.

“We were separated for four years or so, but most all of us came back to Oakdale,” Bob said of his lifelong friendships. “Not all of us, but quite a few.”

With Frank Clark as their class president, the last reunion for Class of 1955 was to be in 2020 which was cancelled due to COVID.

“It’s funny with Frank, he says I think we should have another reunion in five to 10 years,” Bob said with a laugh. “Everybody shook their head, because of everybody that had passed away we said maybe you should make that one or two years.”

Ron recently attended his 35-year reunion with the class of 1990, including some of his foreign exchange student siblings, whom Bob and Phyllis also view as their kids.

The family began hosting exchange students during Ron’s sophomore year and continued well after his graduation. Their bonds with the students and now their families have continued across the decades.

As both men have remained active in Oakdale not just through the business but community service as well, they both tout the importance of community

“The community has supported our business for years,” Ron said. “It’s important for us to give back to this community.”

And as for the trifecta of Mustang history, both shared their pride in not just being Mustangs, but the parents of Mustangs.

“It’s all centered around education and high school,” Ron said of the community at large. “It’s neat. It’s neat to be able to carry on the tradition.”