‘Citizen’ Dinner Celebrates an Historian, Activism

Maintaining a tradition that began in 1947, the Palisadian-Post honored Emil Wroblicky as the 2006 Citizen of the Year last Thursday evening with a down-home banquet at the American Legion Post 283 Hall on La Cruz. The Post also presented a Community Treasure Award to Betty Lou Young, 88, who has chronicled the town’s history and its neighborhoods through books (including ‘Pacific Palisades: From the Mountains to the Sea’) and articles, usually in collaboration with her son Randy, a photographer. ‘Betty Lou is a giant dynamo in a petite package, and I would never underestimate what this gal can do,’ said Post Publisher Roberta Donohue. ‘She has taken the true spirit of what our founding fathers saw in Pacific Palisades and has been at the forefront of many hard-fought battles to preserve our small-town atmosphere and the parkland that surrounds us. ‘Betty Lou’s writing has given this community an identity, and she brings it to life through her books.’ In her humorous, heartfelt acceptance talk, Young thanked her friends at the Palisades Historical Society, the various homeowner associations she has worked with over the years, and ‘all the wonderful characters’ she researched and interviewed, whose deeds have made her books come alive. Introducing ‘Citizen’ Wroblicky, Donohue noted that ‘this award is the most prestigious honor that can be bestowed on a resident. We feel that recognizing the volunteer efforts of people who improve the quality of life for all of us is a gratifying responsibility.’ ‘Emil,’ Dononue continued, ‘fits the ‘Citizen’ criteria like a glove”an individual who, through unselfish efforts, has made a lasting contribution to Pacific Palisades in the previous year that ideally promotes the town’s environment and character and inspires and encourages a great interest in civic affairs.’ ‘Emil does this year after year in his work on behalf of the American Legion and the Palisades Fourth of July parade committee, while also promoting patriotism among young people.’ Wroblicky, who was joined by his wife of 57 years, Alice, amused everybody by noting historical connections to various people in the audience. There was 92-year-old Phyllis Genovese, founder of The Letter Shop on Via de la Paz, who attended his old high school in Illinois. And Lou Hruby, a 1935 graduate of Notre Dame (Emil’s alma mater), and John Huarte, the 1964 Heisman Trophy winner, and actor Peter Graves, ‘who threw out the first pitch at the park one year, and the ball was caught by my son Steve.’ The evening’s entertainment, featuring singer Didi Carr Reuben and a supporting troupe, was directed and choreographed by Babs Warden Lebowsky, written by Barbara Dawson, and produced by Joan Graves, with Dr. James Smith on piano and Steven Carr Reuben on drums.