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| Remembering Wayne Grisham |
Church Service: Friday, January 28 (11:00 a.m.)
Morningstar Christian Chapel16241 Leffingwell Road
Whittier, CA 90603
(562) 943-0297
*Immediately Followed By the Graveside Ceremony @ Olive Lawn Memorial Park13926 La Mirada Blvd
La Mirada, CA 90637
*Immediately Followed By the Celebration of Life @ La Mirada Country Club15501 E. Alicante Road
La Mirada, CA 90638
By Randy Economy
www.Economy4ABC.Blogspot.com
January 21, 2011
8:15 p.m.
LA MIRADA -
Sad news. I just read in the Whittier Daily News about the passing of former Rep. Wayne Grisham.
He apparently died on Wednesday of respiratory failure due to complications from pneumonia. Hard to believe that he was 88 at the time of his passing.
Incredible life
I loved Wayne. He was a great man to be around and to work for. I had the honor to be a Legislative Assistant and Press Secretary for then Assemblyman Grisham back in the 1980's.
I will always remember his incredible smile, his saddle shoes, that perfect Southern California suntan that would light up any room he walked into and his love of life and laughter.
I remember going with him to Sacramento several times and also his "get away comfort spot" over in Avalon on Catalina Island.
Wayne was also a former La Mirada Mayor and City Councilman, and also rose to power when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives four years and then in the Assembly.
Here is more about him, in case you never had the honor to know him:
Wayne was born in Lamar, Colorado, and graduated from Jordan High School here in Long Beach. He was in the United States Army Air Corps, fighter pilot in the European Theater from 1942 to 1946. Shot down and was a prisoner of war. He was a teacher, a businessman, and amazing father and grandfather.
Grisham was elected as a Republican to the Ninety-sixth and to the succeeding Congress (January 3, 1979-January 3, 1983). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the Ninety-eighth Congress in 1982. He served as director of the Peace Corps in Nairobi, Kenya, 1983. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 1984 and was reelected in 1986.
In 1987, he ran for the California State Senate in a special election, but was defeated by Democratic Norwalk City Councilman Cecil Green. He was narrowly defeated for reelection to the state Assembly in 1988. That campaign between him and Green was one of the nastiest ever held around our area, and people who remember back then will never forget it.
Grisham is survived by his wife Millie, his three children, Cathy Brooks, Randy Grisham and Kellie Campbell and five grandchildren. So sad. Gonna keep Wayne and his family in my Prayers this weekend! RIP. Feel free to share your thoughts and memories about Wayne here on my blog in the comment section.
1 comment:
Grisham, Wayne Richard
January 10, 1923 - January 19, 2011
Former U.S. Congressman and decorated war hero Wayne Grisham, 88, passed away on January 19 surrounded by his family.
Wayne grew up in Long Beach and married his high school sweetheart, Millie Watt. He graduated from Whittier College with a BA in Economics and did his graduate work at USC.
Wayne was a fighter pilot in WWII where his plane was shot down over Germany and he became a prisoner of war. He received the Purple Heart.
In 1956 he opened Wayne Grisham Realty in La Mirada and became involved in the community, serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce and President of the Board of Realtors.
In 1970 Wayne was elected to the La Mirada City Council, where he served for eight years with two terms as Mayor. Wayne was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1978 and served two terms. President Ronald Reagan appointed Wayne as Director of the Peace Corps in Kenya, Africa in 1983. In 1984, he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served two terms.
Wayne and his wife, Millie, have been married 66 years and have lived in La Mirada for 44 years. He is survived by his wife, his 3 children, Cathy (Lance) Brooks, Randy (Evelyn) Grisham and Kellie (Jerry) Campbell and 5 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday January 28 at 11:00 at Morningstar Church, 16241 Leffingwell Rd., Whittier.
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