Guests enjoyed this exclusive opportunity with behind-the-scenes tours highlighting the restoration and rehabilitation of the Western Metal Supply Co. building. Petco Park tour guides were well informed and wrote to us afterwards to say that they were most happy to have such an interested audience.
The Event of the Season
The People in Preservation awards and reception were a rousing success. Close to 200 attendees and guests were treated to an event of singular status. As a co-sponsor Padres management made it possible for SOHO to hold the 22nd annual awards at the exclusive venue of the Western Metal Supply Co. building at Petco Park.
Food fit for the most discerning of gourmands was butler-served on a terrace overlooking many of the eleven historic sites that were saved as a part of the agreement with the Padres, the City of San Diego, the National Trust and SOHO. The food was sponsored and provided by Delaware North the official concessionaire to Petco Park. We thank them for their generosity.
Maureen McLellan and her sister Christine Babcock greeted guests at the gate. The winners were congratulated and honored by many friends in the community, including James Mills, Ellen and Melvin Sweet, Linda and Eddie Canada, Bill and Suzanne Lawrence, Fritz Ahern and family, Elizabeth Allancorte, Victor Walsh, J.W. August, Debbie and John Stall, Maureen Steiner, Jake Enriquez, Debra Baker, Ron and Dale May, Janet O’Dea and Allen Hazard, Helen Halmay, John Panter, Melinda Lee, Tony Stiegler and many others.
SOHO Board of directors and their guests present were Treasurer Jessica McGee, SOHO President David Marshall and his wife Stacy, Erik Hanson, Vice President Barry Hager and wife Hilary, Lori Peoples and Christopher Pro, SOHO Webmaster and board member Mike Kelly and wife Diane, Beth and Zeke Montes, David Swarens, SOHO Executive Director Bruce Coons and Event Coordinator Alana Coons.
The VIP treatment continued as the award ceremony itself was held at field level. A podium and stage were set against the spectacular backdrop of the empty stadium. Lynne Christenson, County Historian for San Diego Parks shared emcee duties with SOHO board member Welton Jones. They did a terrific job and we thank them.
Thanks go to SOHO members Rebecca Gray, Vykki Mende Gray and Dennis Boyer for handling the PowerPoint portion of the program.
The winners were most gracious in their acceptance speeches. Accepting awards were Rich Bellows; Kim and Joe Grant; Ed and Jamie MacBean; Keith York; Mark Montijo; Ione Stiegler and Susan Carter; John and Stephanie Wylie; Dr. Dwayne Little; Charles Castle; Erik Judson and Greg Shannon; and Wayne Donaldson. Mayor Murphy, councilman Michael Zucchet, councilwoman Donna Fry, all gave certificates of accommodation to the winners along with the coveted SOHO award.
Thank you to our jury: Ron May, Welton Jones, Bonnie Poppe and Deirdre Lee who were impressed with the quality and broad scope of this year’s nominations. The ceremony ended with a standing ovation for Lifetime Achievement winner Milford Wayne Donaldson FAIA. It was a fabulous evening, and we wish you all could have been there as well.
This spectacular event could not have been possible without the help of our sponsors. We would like to thank them once again. Thank you to the San Diego Padres and to Delaware North.
