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Los Angeles County Fair Association
Hall of Fame
“The Spirit of the Fair”
Since 1922, the L.A. County Fair has been providing the greater Los Angeles community annually with a celebration of education and entertainment with a focus on our agricultural roots. Today, the L.A. County Fair, the largest county Fair in the country, is one of the most significant celebration events in the nation largely due to the direct support, guidance and contributions of its volunteers.
In an effort to commemorate and honor those individuals who have given countless hours of volunteer service to the L.A. County Fair, The Los Angeles County Fair Association has created a Hall of Fame.
The Board of Directors of the Association, from time to time, may select an individual or individuals who have made significant contributions that have served as guiding influences in the development of the L.A. County Fair. Those individuals will be
The Los Angeles County Fair Association recognizes Jay Ambrose for his many contributions to the Fair and welcomes him as a member of the Los Angeles County Fair Association Hall of Fame.
 Los Angeles County Fair Association Founding Fathers
C.B. Afflerbaugh, known as Jack, was born in Clay County, Nebraska and came to Pomona with his parents at the age of 11. He graduated from Pomona High School, studied pharmacy at the University of California and in partnership opened the A & E drug store. He was involved in civic affairs, served on the city council and was a member of Elks. He was the fair’s general manager beginning in 1922 and later president/manager, a position he held until his death in 1960.
George W. Cobb, a native of Iowa served as the first secretary of the L.A. County Fair from 1922-’26. He was affiliated with a number of businesses, and served as an accountant with several Pomona Valley companies. In his youth he was a professional baseball player with the old Baltimore Orioles and Oakland of the Coast league.
Charles P. Curran was born in Illinois, relocating to Pomona in 1902. He and his brother Frank opened Curran Brothers Inc. lumber yard. He was known as a man of considerable force of character, deeply interested in furthering the development of the Valley. He was a charter member of Rotary Club of Pomona He served on the original Board of Trade, the board of the Chamber of Commerce and on the Hospital Board. He was president of the Fair from 1923-1932. He was called one of Pomona’s foremost citizens.
William A. Kennedy was born near New Castle, Pennsylvania. He moved to California in 1903. He was an original director of the Los Angeles County Fair Association and served on its board from 1945-’54. While he was interested in all phases of the fair, his love for fine horses attracted his attention to that department along with an interest in the fine art department. He was the last surviving member of the original board. He was president of First National Bank of Pomona, a position he held for 30 years. He was a charter member of Pomona Rotary and served on its board of directors and as treasurer for 18 years.
Fred Reynolds, a native of Michigan moved to Pomona in 1912. He owned automobile dealerships in Pomona and had interests in the citrus industry. He was the first treasurer of the Los Angeles County Fair Association, a position he held from 1922-’24. He was a member of Rotary Club and Elks.
Louis Elmer (L.E.) Sheets was a native of Geneva, Illinois. He settled permanently in Pomona in 1907, and established the L.E. Sheets Piano Company on Garey Avenue. He owned land, planted citrus crops, raised alfalfa and sheep. He was the Fair’s first president serving in 1922-’23.
Fred E. Whyte, born in Strathroy, Ontario, Canada, served as the Fair’s second vice-president from 1923-’27. He came to California in 1908, and to Pomona where he established the Southern Service Company, some 25 laundries and dry cleaning plants. Prominent in local affairs, he served as president of Pomona Chamber of Commerce, was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and was a Shriner. He was one of the charter members of Rotary Club of Pomona, serving as its first president in 1921-’22. He was described as one who was instrumental in founding one of the largest businesses in the area and as a citizen who always had the welfare and best interests of the community at heart.
Bob Lewis
Bob Lewis joined the Fair Association in 1975 and served until his death in 2006. He delivered a contagious enthusiasm for horse racing and was an undeniable ambassador for the sport. The owner of several race horses, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners Silver Charm and Charismatic, Lewis was owner of Foothill Beverage Company in Pomona from 1956 to 2003. Lewis was a familiar face at sales at Fairplex-based Barretts Equine Ltd.
Altruistic and benevolent, a humble man, devoted to his family and much loved and respected by all who knew him, Lewis served on a number of boards including Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation and Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. Bob and his wife, Beverly, were generous philanthropists providing funding for the highly esteemed Bob and Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center in 1993 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and a neuro-imaging center that focuses on brain research located at the University of Oregon.
Lewis was instrumental in initial efforts and maintained an involvement in fund-raising for the well-known Padua Village group homes in Claremont, in addition to providing donations and support for Casa Colina’s new facility, which opened in 2005. Bob Lewis passed away on Feb. 17, 2006 and is survived by his wife and sons, Jeff and Jimmy.
Clyde Houston
 Clyde Houston could be spotted around the Fairgrounds in his distinctive three-piece suit during the days of his board presidency, from 1933 to 1944. He joined the Association in 1930. During those landmark years, Fairplex 4, described as the largest exhibit building in the world was built; the Fair was part of a tri-county fair, along with Riverside County and the Orange County Fair, remaining so until 1937; the concrete and steel grandstand and ground-floor exhibit hall, originally home to Household Arts, currently Tapestry, were constructed; pari-mutuel wagering was legalized and horse racing was king; the Fair extended to a 17 day event; construction brought several buildings including an arts and crafts building (now Administration II), childcare center and a cafeteria later dubbed Anthony’s at the Fair (now Avalon); the Los Angeles County Fair Corporation was re-organized as the Los Angeles County Fair Association, a not-for-profit operation. Houston was at the helm during a busy and productive decade.
In addition to his position with the Fair, Houston was employed by Southern California Edison Co. for 40 years serving in a number of managerial positions before being named vice-president and general manager in 1942. Held in highest esteem by his colleagues and described as a man of action, civic leader, loyal, witty and quick minded, sincere and genuine, he actively promoted the Fair and carried with him a slogan of “always forward.” He passed away January 8, 1945. His daughter, Helen Boileau, resides in Pomona.
 Fred Freehling
Fred Freehling joined the Association in 1970 and was named a director in 1973, serving through 2004. He is presently director emeritus. Now retired, he previously owned Pomona-based Darbo Manufacturing; was vice-president and general manager of Armline Inc.; and was vice-president of operations for Betsy Ross Restaurant in Pomona. Freehling defines commitment, loyalty and dedication in his service to the community and to the LACFA, sharing time, knowledge and experience. He presently serves on the Association’s education foundation board and is a member of the investment committee. With a business and restaurant background, and a love of the Fair, Freehling immersed himself in the Fair’s bread and butter, its extensive concessions, food service and hospitality business.
He is currently on the board of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and has served on the boards of several organizations including LeRoy Boys’ Home Foundation (now LeRoy Haynes Center), Pomona Rotary Club, Centers for Rehabilitation and Pomona Jaycees. He received the Distinguished Service and Boss of the Year awards from Pomona Jaycees. He and his wife, Suzanne, reside in Apple Valley.
 Charles T. Richardson
Charles T. Richardson, joined the Los Angeles County Fair Association in 1966, and served until 1996. He was a director from 1969-1981, and director emeritus from 1981 until his death in 1996. While serving as an association member, he was involved with the planning/buildings and grounds committee.
Richardson was the former publisher of the Pomona Progress Bulletin and the Ontario Daily Report. His father bought the newspaper that would become the Progress-Bulletin in 1903. Chuck bought the Daily Report in 1965 and sold both papers to Donrey Media Group in 1967. The local newspaper that currently serves the Inland Empire, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin evolved when the two papers merged in 1990. His community involvement is significant, serving on the boards of Pomona First Federal, Claremont University Center, LeRoy Boys Home and Mt. San Antonio Gardens; he was chairman of the board of the Pomona Valley Hospital Foundation. One can only wish to leave a legacy such as Chuck Richardson – a man devoted to the city and the community, a smart businessman and newspaper owner, a soft spoken gentleman with high principles and unquestionable professional ethics. The Los Angeles County Fair Association is honored by his participation and inspired by his dedication.
 Jay
Ambrose
Jay Ambrose was inducted into the coveted Los Angeles
County Fair Association Hall of Fame in 2002. Jay
Ambrose joined the Los Angeles County Fair Association
in 1977. He was named a board member in 1984 and
was named director emeritus in 1990.
Jay Ambrose twice retired from business; first
as store manager with Sears Roebuck Co. and
as vice president for personnel with Foothill
Beverage Company. He worked 37 years with Sears
Roebuck and Company, including 10 as the manager
of the Pomona store before retiring in 1978.
He is the former vice president of personnel
for Foothill Beverage Company, and also served
as a director.
He was active in Fair community relations, including
the Fair’s “Day at the Races” program.
Ambrose was former president of Pomona Rotary
Club, past director of Padua Village,
Inc. and Pomona Chamber of Commerce. He also
served as secretary of Red Hill Country Club.
Graduate of University of Oregon and native of
Blue Rapids, Kansas. He and his wife Helen resided
in Claremont for many years. They have three
daughters: Laura Smith, Susan Vaughn and Shirley
Osborne.
Much-beloved and respected, Jay Ambrose passed
away on April 28, 2002.
 Raymond
J. Arbuthnot
Raymond Arbuthnot was appointed as a member
of the Los Angeles County Fair Association
Board of Directors in 1953, a position he held
until 1980 when he was appointed Director Emeritus.
He served as Board President from 1968-1973.
Arbuthnot’s involvement dates back to
the first L.A. County Fair in 1922, where he
exhibited a calf and won a ribbon. Livestock
and agriculture remains his favorite part of
the Fair.
He served on the board of Pomona Valley Hospital
Medical Center, was former director of First
National Bank in Pomona, First National Bank
of La Verne, former president of La Verne Fruit
Exchange, La Verne Grange Association and Sunkist
Products in Ontario.
Arbuthnot has been honored for his numerous
civic contributions, including a citation from
Western Fairs Association for more than 25 years
of service.
Arbuthnot owned and operated citrus farms before
his retirement. He was a graduate of University
of Southern California and remained active with
the university as president of the University
of Southern California Alumni Association and
a member of the Board of Trustees.asdasdsa
 E.
Burdette Boileau
E. Burdette Boileau was appointed as a member
of the Los Angeles County Fair Association
Board of Directors in 1960, a position he held
until 1982 when he because Director Emeritus.
He has been an Association member since 1960.
Over the years, Boileau has been involved in
several areas of the Fair including the Grandstand
and the Flower and Garden Pavilion. During his
time as a Fair director, Boileau was very involved
in the educational development of the Fair content.
Formerly a member of the law firm, Nichols,
Stead, Boileau & Lamb, now retired, Boileau
has a long and illustrious career of service
within the community. He has received accolades
from a number of organization recognizing his
dedication and years of service, including Man
of the Year from both the YMCA and the LeRoy
Haynes Center.
He served as president of both the YMCA and
the Pomona Rotary Club. He has served on the
boards of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
Foundation, United Way Regional Board, Boy Scouts
of America and Pomona Chamber of Commerce. He
was chairman of the board of trustees at Trinity
United Methodist Church, Mt. San Antonio College
and Pilgrim Place in Claremont.
Boileau is a graduate of Pomona College and
received his L.L.B. from University of California
Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall).
Boileau passed away Feb. 24, 2005. Burdette's widow,
Helen Boileau, is the former Helen Houston, whose
father Clyde Houston was one of the Fair’s
founders in 1921.
 James
R. Kostoff
James R. Kostoff joined the Los Angeles County
Fair Association in 1966. He was named a director
in 1970. He has served for a record 20 years
as Chairman of the Board of the Los Angeles
County Fair Association.
During his reign as chairman, Kostoff has served
with three of the four presidents of the Fair:
Phil D. Shepherd from 1961-1978, Ralph M. Hinds
from 1983-1994 and James E. Henwood from 1995
to the present.
As Chairman of the Board, Kostoff has been a
guiding influence in the development of the Fair
and Fairplex for the past 20 years. During his
watch, Fairplex has grown into a thriving year-round
operation. Beginning with the renovation of the
exhibit buildings to meet the needs of trade
and consumer shows and followed by the addition
of Barretts Equine Sales Complex, a 184-space
recreational vehicle park and convenience store
and the 247-suite Sheraton Fairplex Fairplex, Fairplex
has been transformed into a world-class exposition
complex. The facility has invested more than
$98 million in capital improvements since 1984.
Education being a primary tenet of the Los Angeles
County Fair Association, Kostoff has been instrumental
in the creation of three distinct not-for-profit
foundations, the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts Foundation,
Fairplex Education Foundation and Child Development
Center Foundation. Through these foundations,
the Fair Association has been able to enhance
and expand its educational opportunities to the
community on a year-round basis.
Formerly president of the law firm, Nichols,
Stead, Boileau & Kostoff, now retired, Kostoff
has had a long and illustrious career of service
within the community and has received numerous
accolades from a number of organizations recognizing
his dedication and years of service.
Kostoff is a graduate of Pomona College in Claremont
and UCLA Law School. He and his wide Pat are
residents of Upland. They have two children,
Jeff and Karen.
 G.
Grenville Whyte
Gren Whyte was born on August 22, 1916 in Ontario,
California and was a life-long resident of
Pomona. He graduated from Stanford University
in 1938 and served his country in the Marine
Corps from 1944-1946. Gren’s uncle, Fred
E. Whyte, was a member of the Fair’s
original 1923 board of directors. Gren joined
the Los Angeles County Fair Association in
1954 and was named to the board of directors
in 1960. He was elected president of the Fair
association 8 times from 1974 until his untimely
death in 1983. His active involvement and strong
leadership within the community was legendary
including Rotary Club, PFF Bank & Trust
and the Pomona Civic Center Corp. Gren was
president of Southern Service Company, a Pomona
linen supply and garment rental business. He
was named Pomona Jaycees “Boss of the
Year” in both 1952 and 1967. He received
the community service award from Pomona Chamber
of Commerce in 1970 and special recognition
from the city of Pomona for his long tenure
on the Parks and Recreation Commission, most
of the time as chairman of that group.
He is credited with bringing the Fair’s
horse racing meeting into national prominence
as well as creating a new vision for growth and
progress for the Association through the expansion
of the year-round events calendar to complement
the Fair.
Gren passed away Nov. 7, 1983. Gren’s widow Margaret, resides in Upland.
They have four children.
The Los Angeles County Fair Association is honored
by Gren Whyte’s participation and commitment
to the organization and salutes his induction
into the Hall of Fame.
 Molly
A. Johnson
Molly Johnson was born on July 30, 1930 in
Freeport, Illinois. She attended both Rockford
College in Illinois and Stanford University.
Molly went where no woman had gone before-to
the Los Angeles County Fair Association board
of directors in 1979. She became a director
emeritus in 2001. Molly also held positions
of prominence within the community serving
as the first woman president of the board for
Pilgrim Place in Claremont. She was past president
of San Antonio Council Camp Fire Inc., and
on the boards of Metropolitan YMCA of Pomona
Valley, LeRoy Boys’ Home and the city
of Claremont Foundation. She was honored by
the Progress Bulletin in 1980 as the Woman
Achiever of the Year and was the recipient
of the Luther Halsey Gulick Award from Camp
Fire.
An accomplished musician in flute and piano,
Molly’s path has been diverse, impressive
and filled with many wonderful experiences. She
worked for Dr. Loyal Davis chairman of the department
of surgery at Northwestern University. Dr. Davis
was the father-in-law of Ronal Reagan. Molly
was a student of Eleanor Roosevelt in 1950 when
she headed the Human Rights Commission in the
United Nations. She was among the first group
of American students to study abroad after the
conclusions of World War II, first in London
then in the Scandinavian countries.
Molly was most notably the first chairwoman
of the Fairplex Child Development Center Foundation,
one of three education foundations formed at
Fairplex in 1999. Her dedication to the welfare
and education of children is renown, along with
the determination and passion to provide the
necessary resources critical for each child’s
future growth, development and potential.
Molly and her husband Dr. Jerome Johnson, formerly
a cardiologist at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical
Center, reside in Claremont. The couple has two
children.
The Los Angeles County Fair Association recognizes
the leadership, spirit, dedication and generosity
synonymous with Molly Johnson, and proudly welcomes
her to the 2005 Hall of Fame.
 Thomas
F. Nuss
Tom was born on September 24, 1932 in New York
City, graduated from Holy Cross College and
Fordham University School of Law, and served
his country in the United States Marine Corps
as a major from 1954 through 1957. He relocated
to San Dimas and served as a councilman from
1968 through 1972 and as mayor from 1972-1974.
Tom joined the Los Angeles County Fair Association
in 1984, was named to the board of directors
in 1990 and became a director emeritus in 2002.
In addition to holding elected offices in San
Dimas, Tom was also named the San Dimas Citizen
of the Year in 1965 and is past president of
San Dimas Chamber of Commerce and San Dimas
Rotary Club. He was also on the boards of Pomona
Valley Red Cross, United Way, San Dimas-La
Verne YMCA and McKinley Home for Boys. He was
chairman of the board of Pomona Valley Community
Hospital and past chairman of the San Dimas
Festival of Western Arts. Retired as a full-time
superior court judge after 20 years he is now
active as a private judge for arbitrations,
mediations and settlement conferences.
Tom was the founding chairman of the Millard
Sheets Galley Foundation formed in 1999, a position
he retains in 2005. He is a respected and dynamic
part of the organization and his leadership and
demeanor are held in highest esteem. The Gallery
expanded its community involvement and commitment
to education under Tom’s guidance with
more future goals to be set and met.
Tom and his wife Sue, reside in Rancho Cucamonga.
They have eight children.
The Los Angeles County Fair Association is honored
to welcome Tom Nuss into the 2005 Hall of Fame.
 Donald
R. DesCombes
Don was born on May 7, 1932 in Denver, Colorado,
attended Denver public schools and graduated
from Dartmouth College in 1954. He served his
country as a captain in the United States Air
Force from 1958 through 1966 and relocated
to Claremont in 1959. Don was a partner in
a commercial insurance brokerage firm in the
Inland Valley for 40 years. He was named to
the Los Angeles County Fair Association in
1970 and became a board director in 1980. He
was appointed a director emeritus in 2002.
Don has a long and impressive history with
community, civic and philanthropic organizations.
He served as chairman of the board of Pomona
First Federal Savings and Loan, board member
of Inter Valley Health Plan and Pomona Valley
Hospital Medical Center, Pomona Chamber of
Commerce, Old Baldy Council/Boy Scouts of America,
and Pomona Jaycees. He also was actively involved
with the L.A. Olympic Organizing Committee.
He was honored in 1965 with the Distinguished
Service Award from Pomona Jaycees. Old Baldy
Council presented Don with the 1977 Silver
Beaver Award, the 1980 Distinguished Eagle
Scout Award, and in 1988 with the Good Scout
Award as well as the 1983 Distinguished Citizen
Award from the Pomona Chamber of Commerce.
He and his wife Betty, were recipients of the
2003 Humanitarians of the Year Award from LeRoy
Haynes Center. The couple was also honored
and commended for being in the Inland Valley’s
top 5 percent of volunteers, an impressive
and commendable designation.
Don was founding chairman of the Fairplex Education
Foundation upon its inception in 1999. His dynamic
leadership and dedication to education were a
perfect fit with the foundation’s goal
of expanding the Fair’s educational programming
for schools and members of the surrounding communities.
The Los Angeles County Fair Association is proud
to include Don DesCombes in its 2005 Hall of
Fame.
Don passed away May 23, 2005. |
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