PROPOSAL TO HONOR JOHN RAITT
Here is an email from Bob Hayden of Fullerton:
My name is Bob Hayden and my wife Tricia and I live in Fullerton.
The reason I am writing to you is as follows. Since February of 2005 when Fullerton High School alumnus John Raitt passed away I have been trying to encourage the City of Fullerton to honor him by renaming the Brea Dam Recreational Area after him. The proposed new name would be the John Raitt Recreational Area and Trails. In meeting with Joe Felz, Director of Parks and Recreation for Fullerton last week he asked me to contact some key people in the community to see if there is a positive reaction to this renaming idea. In searching the web I came across your blog and thought you would be an excellent person to contact.
I have attached to this email the proposal that I have drafted and welcome your input. If there are other people you could suggest I contact, please let me know.
Thanks for taking time to review this and I will look forward to hearing from you.
Bob
If you want to read the proposal, click on "Comments" below. If you want to contact Bob, email Connie. CVANHORN@PACBELL.NET
posted by Connie @ 12:49 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
Proposal to the
City of Fullerton
I PROPOSE that the Brea Dam Recreational Area be renamed
to the John Raitt Recreational Area and Trails, and concurrently
establish the John Raitt Recreational Area Foundation as a 501(c)3
not-for-profit. In conjunction with this, it is hoped that the Army
Corp of Engineers would consent to renaming the existing
Brea Dam as the John Raitt Dam.
JOHN RAITT, who spent his formative years growing up in
Fullerton, died on February 20, 2005. Raitt was a standout track
star at Fullerton High School, which led him to being offered a
track scholarship to USC. Raitt then went on to a stellar Broadway
career that lasted nearly sixty years. In addition to Broadway, he
appeared in movies and on television. In speaking with Griff
Duncan from the Fullerton Civic Light Opera, I understand that
Raitt was always willing to come back to his hometown of
Fullerton to help raise money for various organizations.
Born in Santa Ana, California, John Emmett Raitt was a gifted
athlete, yet he gravitated toward show business after excelling in
campus shows. By 1940 he was appearing with the Los Angeles
Civic Light Opera and he made his screen debut in a minor role
in the 1940 drama, Flight Command, starring Robert Taylor. His
screen appearances, however, were few and far between and it was
not long before he turned his attention back to the stage, with
credits including operatic performances in The Barber of Seville.
The turning point came in 1944, when he was called to audition
in New York as a replacement for the part of Curly in Rodgers
and Hammerstein’s hit, Oklahoma!. At that audition, Raitt made
an indelible impression by singing Figaro’s aria, Largo al factotum.
After nearly a year of touring with Oklahoma!, Rodgers and
Hammerstein decided that he would be ideal as the male lead in
their new project, Carousel, which soon opened in April 1945. His
performance of Soliloquy was to become one of the high points of
that triumphant production and he will forever be associated with
his portrayal of Billy Bigelow, the fairground barker.
After three years with the show, Raitt briefly returned to
Hollywood. Then, back to Broadway with the opening of
Magdalena at the Ziegfeld Theatre in September 1948. The show
closed early and it was not until 1954 that Raitt struck the big time
again, this time in The Pajama Game. Raitt played the factory
superintendent, Sid Sorokin, and was given one of the production’s
strongest songs, the ballad “Hey There.” The show settled into a
long run, and Raitt reprised his role in the 1957 film adaptation,
co-starring Doris Day. In the years that followed, Raitt worked in
a series of acclaimed revivals, including Annie Get Your Gun.
He worked steadily throughout his career, and in his final years
he also made a number of appearances with his daughter, singersongwriter
and Grammy Award-winner Bonnie Raitt, including a
special PBS concert with the Boston Pops Orchestra.
Raitt received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has
been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame at the Gershwin
Theatre on Broadway.
Raitt’s widow Rosemary is a member of the Kraemer/Yorba
family of Orange County. His daughter, Bonnie, and sons, Steven
and David, survive him from his first marriage; along with stepdaughters
Sally Lokey and Dee Mahieu and six grandchildren.
THE CITY OF FULLERTON has a unique opportunity to rename
a recreational area and trails (currently named after another city)
to the name of a native son who succeeded in life and remembered
his hometown of Fullerton. This would be an honor worthy
to bestow upon John Raitt who set an example for his fellow
Fullertonians.
IN KEEPING with acceptable practices of the Association of
Fundraising Professionals it would be appropriate to establish the
John Raitt Recreational Area and Trails Foundation to raise funds
for the enhancement of the recreational area and trails. Because
Raitt was a legendary performer of stage and screen, having his
name attached to this recreational area and trails will bring more
prestige and honor to the City of Fullerton than its current name.
The Foundation should be established for two purposes:
fundraising; and as a planning vehicle for the recreational use
in conjunction with the Department of Parks and Recreation.
The Foundation would also be responsible for developing avenues
to continue Raitt’s legacy. This might include the development
of a rustic outdoor amphitheater for summer concerts and shows,
enhancing trails for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts (running,
hiking, biking, horseback riding), enhancing picnic areas, etc.
The City of Fullerton was proud to salute John Raitt by declaring
July 4, 2005 as John Raitt Day. Raitt was an incredible performer,
humanitarian, teacher, husband and father and he will be treasured
in the hearts of his family and fellow Fullertonians forever. I can
think of no better way to honor a legendary Fullertonian than by
naming the area after him, where he, himself, spent hours training
for track while at Fullerton High School.
Before approaching the City with this idea, I have spoken with
Raitt’s daughter, Bonnie Raitt, through her manager Kathy Kane
for support and approval of the family. Bonnie’s manager indicated
she was flattered by the thought that her dad might be honored
in this way. His widow Rosemary and stepdaughter Sally felt the
same way.
I believe that the City would be well served to honor one of
its own who succeeded in his professional career and never
forgot his hometown of Fullerton. Raitt’s hometown now has the
opportunity to give back to his memory and enhance his legacy
by renaming the Brea Dam Recreational Area the John Raitt
Recreational Area and Trails. I appreciate your consideration of
this and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Bob Hayden
Fullerton Business Owner and Resident
(email Connie for how to contact Bob)
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