Kathy Leighton

Kathy Armstrong Leighton is a 5th generation resident of eastern Contra Costa County. Her Armstrong and Barkley ancestors both homesteaded properties along the Byron foothills and Vasco/Mount Diablo range. Her interest in history began with curiosity in family genealogy and expanded into research into the life and times of local pioneers. Over the years, Kathy has interviewed pioneer decedents, municipal judges, bar keeps and war veterans. Family journals, archival research and manuscripts have...See more

Kathy Armstrong Leighton is a 5th generation resident of eastern Contra Costa County. Her Armstrong and Barkley ancestors both homesteaded properties along the Byron foothills and Vasco/Mount Diablo range. Her interest in history began with curiosity in family genealogy and expanded into research into the life and times of local pioneers. Over the years, Kathy has interviewed pioneer decedents, municipal judges, bar keeps and war veterans. Family journals, archival research and manuscripts have filled in many gaps in memory and provided substantiating facts. Many of these interviews lead to articles in the local Brentwood News, East Bay Times, Discovery Bay Clipper and Oakley Gazette newspapers from 1990 to 2000. In these articles we learned a lot about the communities of Brentwood, Byron, Oakley, Knightsen, Discovery Bay and Bethel Island. These articles have spanned the range of fraternal organizations, volunteer fire departments, reclamation districts, crop reports, levee breaks, and more. Kathy's byline, "Footprints in the Sand," was a historical human-interest piece eagerly read every week. She concluded each article with the phrase, "Until next time..." and her loyal readers could not wait. This revised and expanded edition of her 2001 publication, Footprints in the Sand, includes an additional 21 articles and new images not in the original edition. The index has also been enhanced. It now includes topic areas such as fire companies, fraternal lodges and events in addition to family names. This 200-page, local history book will provide enjoyable reading for both long-time residents and an excellent introduction to the community for recent resident new to their new San Joaquin Delta home. See less