About the Writer: Karen Pearlman
Karen Pearlman is a longtime San Diego journalist and associate editor at East County Magazine, where she covers local news, government, community issues and feature stories.
Karen Pearlman • July 20, 2026
Passages: Bill Horn, former San Diego County Supervisor, 83
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Photo courtesy County of San Diego
By Karen Pearlman, East County Magazine
July 20, 2026 (San Diego County) — Bill Horn, a decorated combat United States Marine who spent nearly a quarter-century shaping the development of North County as a San Diego County Supervisor, passed away surrounded by members of his family on Friday, July 17. He was 83.
Born William George Horn on Feb. 18, 1943 in San Diego, Horn, leaves behind a multifaceted legacy as a political force, an agricultural leader and a dedicated philanthropist, dedicating his retirement to building a massive educational center in Uganda.
Horn represented District 5 on the Board of Supervisors for 24 years, from 1995 until his term-limited departure in 2018. During his tenure he was Board Chairman five times. Horn was instrumental in modernizing the county’s infrastructure and oversaw the construction of new community parks and libraries and other county facilities.
Horn pointed to the county’s fiscal health as one of his crowning political achievements. When he first took office in 1995, the county near financial ruin. By the time he retired, the county had navigated its way from near-bankruptcy to securing a top credit rating from major credit agencies.
Before his life in local politics and his work as a local farmer, Horn served in the Vietnam War. A 1966 San Diego State University graduate, he commissioned as a Marine second lieutenant and served as an executive and commanding officer in combat in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action. His decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Throughout his time as a Supervisor, Horn advocated for active-duty military members, veterans and their families. As Board Chair in 2015, he declared the “Year of the Veteran,” noting that roughly a third of San Diego County’s population was connected to the military. He helped establish an annual veterans conference.
Dustin Steiner, Horn’s longtime Chief of Staff, said Horn “was larger than life.”
“He was a principled leader, mentor, and friend who fostered a family atmosphere in the office with a big heart and charming wit,” Steiner said.
A native San Diegan born in downtown San Diego, Horn attended Mission Bay High School, and later built his life as a Valley Center-based avocado and citrus rancher. His life in North County shaped his reputation as a political voice for agriculture and growth.
Though District 5’s boundaries have shifted with redistricting over the decades, the sprawling, largely unincorporated territory Horn represented has always shared a rural, agricultural character with the neighboring communities of East County.
His North County district — which today stretches from Oceanside and Fallbrook to Valley Center, Bonsall, Pala, Pauma Valley and the Palomar Mountain range — bordered the backcountry and foothill communities more commonly associated with East County, including Ramona and Julian.
After he retired from public office, Horn shifted his energy and efforts to East Africa. In 2016, alongside his family, he founded the Emmaus School in he village of Kizigo in the Buikwe District of Uganda.
What began as a rural, undeveloped parcel of farmland was transformed into an educational center with nursery, primary and secondary education facilities. The school now has 75 staff members and serves nearly 1,200 students.
Horn’s vision for the Emmaus School was holistic: he aimed to radically improve the quality of life for vulnerable children across various Ugandan communities. The center provides not only rigorous classroom education but also recreational activities to promote physical health, avenues for creative development and essential healthcare services.
Despite the distance, Horn remained deeply involved, making numerous trips to Uganda to visit the families, students, and staff.
“My Dad loved being ‘Papa Bill’ to thousands of children at Emmaus,” said his son, Geoff Horn. “He was one of a kind: funny, decisive, stubborn, impulsive, entrepreneurial, generous, dependable and unbreakable.”
Horn is remembered by colleagues and constituents for his decades of public service and by his loved ones for his Christian faith. He is survived by Kathy, his wife of 59 years; his three children, Julie, Angie and Geoff; and many grandchildren.
Learn More About Borrego Springs
Source: East County News Services
Please join the Civic Foundation for its annual Old Borego Days celebration No, Borrego is not misspelled in the title above. This is the way Borrego was spelled back in 1928, when the first post office opened in what is now called “Old Borego.” The site is located at 1580 Rango Way. Please join the Civic Foundation for its annual Old Borego Days celebration of the historic heart of the Borrego Valley on Sunday, November 8, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The turnoff from Rango Way will be marked with a sign. Please note that no restrooms are available. Visitors will be able to enter the old post office and general store, originally run by Eslie Wynn, and view a fascinating video from the 1950s extolling the virtues of life in Borrego Springs. One of the first homes in Borrego Springs will also be open for public viewing, offering a nostalgic look back at life in the community’s earlier years. In addition, Borrego Springs Elementary School fourth graders, who study California history, will have their essays on display. Three students will receive awards for their writing on “Borego Now and Then.” Old Borego Days Sunday, November 8, 2026 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. 1580 Rango Way, Borrego Springs
The National Weather Service is monitoring Tropical Storm Marie, which developed near Baja California and could bring a chance of showers to San Diego County over Labor Day weekend.
New sign by artist John Richen is planned for installation soon!
As a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, the store's proceeds benefit the Borrego Springs Children's Center, making every purchase impactful and meaningful.
The Ascent to Freedom celebration is OpiCure Foundation's inaugural cycling event, uniting riders and community in Borrego Springs, California. It will be held on November 21, to honor recovery and the power of the bicycle to heal. The event is a significant milestone in the Foundation’s journey, as brothers and founders Cullen and Griffin Easter welcome members of the community to La Casa del Zorro for a day of riding, reflection and conviviality, and to strengthen the message and work of OpiCure. A community spirit will be at the forefront of an event dedicated to raising awareness through on-site information and advice around recovery, activities including a pickleball tournament, and a ride for those who wish to participate. The ride will be led by the Easter brothers and will take in the stunning scenery of Borrego Springs – it will cater to all levels of ability, with the aim to highlight the empowering joy that riding can bring to anyone willing to jump on a bicycle. Cullen Easter: “Please join us for the inaugural Ascent to Freedom Celebration. This day has been a long time in the making, and we’re incredibly excited to begin what we hope becomes a yearly tradition. It’s a day for community, a day for adventure on the bicycle, and a day to celebrate recovery and the freedom that can come from simply moving forward. “Borrego Springs and the desert feel like the perfect place to begin this journey—open roads, big skies, and a landscape that invites you to get outside, connect, and experience something together. Whether you come to ride, learn, support someone you love, or simply spend the day with us, you are welcome. We can’t wait to see you out there.” Griffin Easter: “OpiCure Foundation’s Ascent to Freedom Ride will be a day in the desert with friends and family you won’t want to miss. A beautifully curated ride with desert vistas, unique lifesize art metalwork, post ride lunch and even a pickleball tournament, there’s something for everyone. We’re so proud to host this inaugural event and celebrate both recovery as well as the freedom a bicycle provides. Mark this ride on your calendar, November 21st. I can’t wait to see everyone there.” Further details will be announced in due course, with a full program confirmed closer to the event date of November 21. The official ride website can be found at opicureride.com OpiCure Foundation was established by the Easter brothers to utilize the bicycle as a tool to assist those struggling with opioid addiction in their recovery process. Through bringing awareness to opioid abuse, redefining best practices for addiction recovery and devoting resources to affect positive change, it is in partnership with the cycling community that we can make a difference. Cullen Easter is an Emergency Department-registered nurse with a Bachelors in Nursing, who has first-hand professional experience in addiction recovery. He is also a proud father, professional cyclist, and leads the mission. Griffin Easter is Director of the team's elite competitive racing program, and competes at the world’s top gravel events across four continents, bringing the OpiCure name to recognition on an international stage.
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Borrego Sun youth intern Mia Garcia talks with Martha Deichler about the Community Resource Center, the people it serves and what Borrego Springs needs for the future. When Martha Deichler first came to Borrego Springs about 20 years ago to work as an elementary school principal, she quickly noticed something that would shape much of her work in the community: opportunities and services readily available in larger cities were often difficult to access in Borrego Springs. Deichler went on to serve as superintendent of the Borrego Springs Unified School District. After retiring, she found she wasn’t ready to stop working for the community. “There’s just too much work to do,” she told Borrego Sun youth intern Mia Garcia during a recent interview at the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center. That work became especially urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic. As residents lost jobs and struggled to navigate unemployment, vaccinations and online government services, a local food distribution effort began growing into something much larger. Computers were made available to help residents access online services, and assistance expanded to include unemployment applications, English classes, employment resources and other programs. Today, the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center connects residents with a wide range of services and opportunities. Deichler said the center helps connect people with programs including CalFresh, Medi-Cal and CalWORKs, while also providing classes, community activities and access to visiting county services. But for Deichler, the impact is best understood through individual lives. She recalled watching a local worker improve his English and advance from dishwasher to busser, then waiter and eventually cook. “That’s what we’re about,” Deichler said, “giving people the opportunities they need to go to the next step of success in their life.” Why Borrego? Garcia also asked Deichler what she loves most about Borrego Springs. Her answer came quickly. “I came out here to work because I love the desert,” Deichler said. “I knew nothing about the people, but I stay because I love the people.” She recalled another resident who once asked where she could learn English. With access to classes and continued education, the woman eventually learned enough English to work for the school district, drive a school bus and advance in her career. She later purchased a home, and her daughter went on to graduate from UCLA. For Deichler, stories like that demonstrate what community support can accomplish. “You can make a difference and you can see it,” she said. One Gift for Borrego Springs Garcia ended the interview with a bigger question: If you could give the Borrego Springs community one gift, what would it be? Deichler chose transportation. She envisions a reliable transportation system that would allow young people — and adults — to reach educational and workforce opportunities outside Borrego Springs, including College of the Desert and Imperial Valley College. Her concern is not simply helping young people leave Borrego. It is giving them the ability to gain skills and education and then bring those opportunities home. “You need to be able to get out, get what you need, but come back and live in this beautiful place,” Deichler said. For Garcia, the interview offered a firsthand look at how one community organization — and the people behind it — can help create opportunities in a geographically isolated town. It also underscored a theme that runs throughout Deichler’s work: sometimes helping a person take one next step can change much more than one moment in their life.
