Dave Matthews final public comment was made to the City of Ridgecrest on June 2nd, 2021. Perhaps Dave knew these comments would be the last time for him to share his wisdom to the town and country he loved.

He was always willing to stand up publicly to the City Council while living up to the principles and ideals of engaged citizenship. Having lived to the grand old age of 90, he had the perspective and insight that comes over many years of life’s challenges. He was a fighter and always to be respected, with a memory that never failed him.

His knew his remaining time on Earth was short, and somehow he was able to make it through the Covid pandemic, even writing a “letter to the editor” during the pandemic complaining that he “needed a haircut” as well as many other treatments for multiple medical issues.

He never took vaccine and had no intention of taking an experimental mRNA gene therapy. What a wise man he was!

In his final council meeting, he came to thank the employees of the City of Ridgecrest for everything they do. Dave relied on the City as a service and truly appreciated the people working there.

Dave might have been a little cantankerous in his old age, that’s to be expected from someone who watched the cost of living increase to the point that he felt poorer and poorer with each increase in the basics, like water, sewer, trash collection and everything else we rely on, including a haircut.

Below you’ll find the now infamous Letter to Governor Newsom titled “I need a Haircut!”, and you’ll also find videos of his last few meetings at the City Council in the months preceeding his death. He will be greatly missed by the City of Ridgecrest and all who knew him and watched him stand up to City Hall.