(Feb. 27, 2008) -- The crowd reflected his eclectic civic DNA as pioneer, booster, critic, iconoclast, visionary -- and LB sports fan:
On Feb. 26, John Morris celebrated his 20th anniversary of doing business at 144 Pine Ave., site of his current Smooth's Sports Grille and his former Mum's.
Elected officials, city management, LB business figures and community advocates attended the event. (At left in adjacent photo, wearing blue shirt, is racing legend Parnelli Jones...speaking with LB Grand Prix Association President/CEO Jim Michaelian.
Mr. Morris was especially proud to have 75 LB Sports Legends present...just part of the 316 famous LB sports figures whose photos are part of the Wall of LB Sports Legends at Smooth's.
Charter Communications TV host Bruce McCrae interviews Smooth's Sports Legend Pat McCormick.
LBReport.com provides extended photo coverage below:
PT Sports scribe and legendary L.A. radio sportstalk host Doug "Kilowatts" Krikorian, along with LB Grand Prix Association President/CEO Jim Michaelian.
Bob Segrin (Olympic Pole Vaulter) of International City Bank LB Marathon with Downtown LB Associates Exec. Dir. Kraig Kojian.
Charter Communications Production Dir. Ron Petke with LB creative power couple Rachel Potucek and Ryan Smolar (organizers of LB's cutting-edge "University by the Sea")
City Management troika: Dir of Planning & Building Craig Beck; City Manager Pat West; Assistant City Manager Suzanne Frick
Beachcomber columnist, "Mum's the Word" host, retired LB Councilman Les Robbins.
8th dist. Council Chief of Staff Jonathan Kraus with Sachi co-owner Josh Lowenthal. So...will Mr. Lowenthal run for School Board [if incumbent Michael Ellis is recalled?] "I'd have to move," said the non-committal Lowenthal. [Hmmm...Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal moved to run for 54th dist. Assembly...]
LB Convention & Visitors Bureau President/CEO Steve Goodling with Greg Bombard of Catalina Express.
Eddie Ratleff (left), former LB State basketball great/USA Olympian/NBA pro chats with LB Golf Legend Dan Gooch (right).
Tom Fields, chair of LB's Redevelopment Agency governing board.
Jane Netherton, International City Bank President/CEO
Carl Kemp of Harvey Englander Associates (former Port of LB/City Hall Gov't/Community Relations director)
LB Assistant City Auditor James Johnson.
Former Queen Mary skipper (former City Hall lessee QSDI President/CEO) Joe Prevratil chats with Mike Hall, former GM of LB's Renaissance Hotel (and also managed the Westin Hotel), now GM at Westin South Coast Plaza.
2nd dist. Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal introduced Mr. Morris by saying she considered him the "pioneer of Pine Ave., the Godfather of Pine Ave. He believed in our downtown long before City Hall did...Thank you for letting me live in a place that will be much better because you came to town." Councilwoman Lowenthal added, "John continuously keeps me on my toes. There is not a day that goes by that he doesn't text me or call me about what I need to be doing to fix the downtown."
Joe Ferarro, Smooth's General Manager, read a message as the room fell silent.
"John: ...I'll never forget you shutting the curtains for us at Legends 28 years ago when you were there when my husband and I had our first kiss...I want to thank you for being the best friend my husband ever had. Your bond and loyalty to each other is unsurpassed. Your kindness, friendship, generosity, thoughtfulness and now deep love. devotion and compassion will never be forgotten as long as I live...Although circumstances don't allow us to be with you tonight, we want you to know how very much we love you.
[s/] Meg and Whitey Littlefield.
L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe presented Mr. Morris with a County recognition. "This not only celebrates your ability to be a great restaurateur...but I just have appreciated your friendship over the years, you mean a lot to me and my family."
LB Mayor Bob Foster said, "I just want to add my thanks and congratulations for twenty years...This place is a legend in Long Beach, and John, I promise you one thing: First of all, you'll always have my friendship. This city will always appreciate you."
Mr. Morris then delivered heartfelt remarks...which included an emotion-packed on-the-spot call to Mr. Littlefield. To hear Mr. Morris' remarks (MP3 audio), click here. [3.1 MB]
Through multiple Mayors, City Managers and Councilmembers, Mr. Morris transitioned from City Hall booster to critic over aspects of the "Queensway Bay" (southern Pine Ave.) development, to litigant alleging City Hall under former management had retaliated against him (a lawsuit ultimately settled).
Among many Mr. Morris' well-wishers by telephone: former LB taxpayer watchdog/neighborhood advocate (now Missouri resident) Traci Wilson-Kleekamp.
In October 2007, Mr. Morris was invited to deliver an unofficial "State of the City Address" to LB's Rotary (for LBReport.com coverage, click here). It turned into a personal tour de force, with Mr. Morris arguing that LB gave up clean water, clean air and beaches with surf -- and the crowds they brought -- to accommodate Port expansion. Mr. Morris then spoke what had once been considered a civic heresy: he argued that the Port of LB owed the City of LB to compensate for those losses.
In his official State of the City message a few months later, Mayor Bob Foster commended Mr. Morris for his suggestion that the L.A. river be redirected to empty into the Port of LB (as it originally did), instead of sending upriver effluents onto LB's beaches. Mayor Foster said Mr. Morris' suggestion just might be part of the solution (i.e. worthy of study)...and added "God help us."
Below: Mr. Morris and daughter Katie. "She's the best," Mr. Morris tells LBReport.com.
