On a lovely past Saturday, at the Jeffers home in La Canada/Flintridge a wonderful public tribute was conducted for Los Angeles’ foremost conservative commentator and Emmy winning TV news reporter & anchor, George Putnam. Special speaker comments were from:
Tom Shelley- Producer of Putnam radio shows on Cable Internet News organization
Rabbi Shiffrin- Local minister, community family activist, running for state office
Ray Briem- Putnam show host understudy, KFI Radio Talk Show host
Stan Chambers- KTTV, Channel 5, Tribune Broadcasting News Director, TV Anchor, Reporter
Steve Cooley- Retired LA District Attorney, co-author of Prop 187
Bruce Herschenson- Nixon Administration member, TV commentator, ran for state office.
Michael Horn
Rees Lloyd
Doug McIntyre- KFI Radio Talk Show host
Richard Mountjoy-
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson- Black minister, community family activist
Jill Putnam- Daughter of George Putnam
Sonny Sardo- Local businessman and running for state office
Tony Valdez- Los Angeles, Channel 11, Fox news reporter
Chuck Wilder- Executive producer of TV Putnam shows for over 50 years
This event opened with a USA and Marine Corps flag posting ceremony led by Captain Bill Baker and executed by the Robert J. Castillo Honor Detail, Team 12 from the American Legion Riverside California. These veteran’s drill team groups are from Mr. Putnam’s local American Legion post. Then we had the flag pledge of allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem. Tom Shelley was the first podium host and Rabbi Shiffrin opened the event with a solemn prayer. The many funerary remembrance-attending speakers were slated to speak about Mr. Putnam. His peers and his family recounted his special life. Many interesting anecdotes were very appreciated by the two hundred persons attending. We heard about Putnam’s life starting in Minnesota and then how he moved to New York to further his career. Mr. Putnam was a WW2 veteran in the US Army and then became an officer in the Marines in the Pacific theater. We heard he loved to drink buttermilk and we were told about his great love of animals, especially with horses. A speaker told us about Walter Winchel, said that George had the best broadcasting voice in all of the USA. His daughter, Jill, a horsewoman from Sun Valley told of their mutual love for ranch life owning many dogs and horses. One of George’s six pet dogs named, ‘Wally George’ was the same canine that Putnam tripped over and broke his neck years back and later fully recovered. That story was recounted in detail to the listening crowd. I had heard that George Putnam had paid the real commentator Wally George’s immense cancer hospital bills towards the end of his final dying days. News reporter, Tony Valdez, told us that the old saying in LA TV news was that Jerry Dunphy READ the news, Baxter Ward INTERPRETED the news, and Putnam ACTED OUT the news! Another Los Angeles Radio and recognizable TV pioneer, Stan Chambers, attended and gave some great stories about Putnam’s successfully fighting the IRS over a legitimate tax deduction for his on air ‘uniform’, suits by Bond with their pockets sew closed. Preacher Jesse Lee Peterson told of Putnam’s solid support in civil rights and race relations during the 60’s. George being a life long member of NAACP. George’s understudy and great pal, Ray Briem, told about the early days of Los Angeles radio and TV. Doug McIntyre retold a story asking Putnam why George had so many horses. Putnam answered quickly with a smile, 'I like them. Have you ever heard of having good horse sense? I love horse sense.' Chuck Wilder, who produced ‘TALK BACK to the News’ shared some stories on how that live TV show got locally produced. (**Writer’s Note: I attended several of those live shows while a High School student.) Later in Mr. Putnam’s life, he broadcasted live from his comfortable ranch in Chico California and Tom Shelley produced those many Internet cable shows. LA city ex-district attorney, Steve Cooley, spoke on how Putnam was very supportive and active in community issues like Prop 13 and Prop 187. Putnam was instrumental in the writing, campaigning, and passage of Prop 187 IE illegal aliens NOT get issued official California driver’s licenses. Also, several activists were pointed out in the attending crowd. The event attendees acknowledged the two courageous parents of the illegal alien murdered LA sheriff deputy, David March and some state government officials. The whole event was being shot with two cameras for anyone who wishes to purchase a commemorative DVD of this fine event with historic Putnam background materials. The DVD monetary proceeds will go to Putnam’s American Legion post. Contact: George Putnam Tribute DVD, PO Box 433 Sunland, California 91041 for $25 each DVD. Finally, the Putnam memorial had an American flag folding ceremony and TAPS played by a local Eagle Scout, Robert Morgan of Riverside. The attendees were treated to a light lunch and some casual mingling. And a pre-recorded memorial DVD was playing in the Sun House with even more gracious testimonials for those who stayed for the small lunch and seeing conservative friends again. These DVD comments were from:
Mr. Raymond Herrerra- National Spokesperson of Minute Man Project
Mr. Jim Gilchrist- Founder and President of Minute Man Project
Chief Lee Baca- Head Sheriff of Los Angeles County
Mr. Terry Anderson- KFI Radio Talk Show host
I was able to mingle and speak to Jim Glichrist of the Minute Man Project and Ray Herrera. Also I caught up with some street protests co-partners named, ‘Newt’ and ‘Mrs Newt’. Some of the major topic of our conversations was the passage of Jamiel’s Law, electing Walter Moore for LA mayor, and LA city council closing down of 14 channels of citizen community public access TV. The event's two hours fled quickly and enthusiastically by all. It was a really lovely day and a pleasant memorial for LA’s best newsman and iconic conservative, George Putnam. You should have been there.
