Over 70 people enjoyed the Dana Point Historical Society’s annual potluck, which was followed by our annual meeting and presentations. Terry Walsh introduced and interviewed Jim Miller as the recipient of the 2013 Pat Plepler Award and Barbara Johannes read the Award Proclamation in Jim’s honor and presented him with the $500 award provided by the Plepler estate in recognition of his civic activism in Dana Point. You can read the proclamation in its entirety here: http://www.coffeeimporters.com/Pat-Plepler-Award-2014.pdf
Jim shared that he was honored to receive the award and spoke about his friendship with Pat Plepler and her dedicated efforts in the beginning of the harbor revitalization. Jim said: “I would like to believe that the new harbor’s 35,000-square-foot Festival Plaza came about because of Pat’s hard work and conviction that the harbor would be a community gathering place, [just] as she enjoyed coming to Coffee Importers just about every day.”
Historical Society members enjoyed listening to Richard Deffenbaugh’s stories about the 1928 Richfield tower dating from 1969 when he became the dealer of the Atlantic Richfield gas station. When Arco dismantled the sign a few years later, Richard kept the aeronautical beacon in the Dana Point Auto waiting room until presenting it to the Society.
The Historical Society presented Richard with three framed historical photos of the Richfield tower. The members thanked Mr. & Mrs. Deffenbaugh for donating the beacon and congratulated them for their 45 years in business in Dana Point. The Society also wishes to congratulate Dana Point Auto for being named the Business of the Year by the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce.