In the fall of 1967, when I returned from Hollywood, CA, where I had temporarily relocated with my Yakima teen band, The Velvet Illusions, I secured a position at the Chinook Hotel’s Red Lion Restaurant. I began my Red Lion career as a busboy; but I was soon promoted to waitperson. I often worked the breakfast shift in the hotel coffee shop. One of my favorite customers was United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. It wasn’t because we engaged in great conversations. Because on Day 1, I was instructed by my head waitress, Inez, to refrain from making chitchat with Justice Douglas. He needed to be left alone with his thoughts. As one would expect. The Justice had the same breakfast every day. I simply brought his food and kept his coffee cup filled, and we said our “Good morning’s”. That was about all that transpired. But I was in awe of him. I thought it was amazing that a Yakima High School graduate, one who grew up working with migrant laborers, picking cherries among other jobs, and who was not sure he would even be able to attend college, would eventually become a member of the highest court of the land. I also worked as a waiter during my tenure in Hollywood, where I served some big stars. And in Yakima, I often waited on the City Fathers (there were no City Mothers yet) who gathered every morning at the restaurant’s “Round Table”. But Justice Douglas was definitely the most impressive and accomplished person I ever interacted with.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 02:23:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015