Rodeo star Jack Roddy rides into S.J. Sports Hall of Fame
One of the best parts of the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame is how the event often puts a spotlight on people whose lives helped make up the fabric of the valley but whose stories are in danger of being lost for future generations.
Jack Roddy, one of five people inducted to the hall Thursday night at SAP Center, is one such story. A graduate of Lick High School, Roddy was a rodeo star and steer wrestling champion in the 1960s and ’70s and won championships at the National Finals Rodeos in 1966 and ’68. Now 80, Roddy’s dark hair has gone white, but he still cuts a towering figure topped with a white cowboy hat. (The number of people in the audience wearing cowboy hats and boots — all Roddy fans and friends — was surely a record for the event.)
Roddy stole the show for me on an emotional night that included tributes to 49ers great Dwight Clark, late baseball star Ken Caminiti, legendary Stanford baseball coach Mark Marquess and women’s soccer Olympic medalist Danielle Slaton. You could tell he was a real character, and friends featured in his video introduction mentioned a favorite pastime of listening to stories from Roddy, who in his post-rodeo days owned the Boots ‘n’ Saddle bar on Alum Rock Avenue.
He did not disappoint in his acceptance speech, either, spinning a tale from the 1970s when he ran into then-San Jose Mayor
Janet Gray Hayes in the waiting room of Los Gatos doctor Bert Johnson, a friend of the rodeo champ’s who was going to remove stitches from Roddy’s hand. His presence there confused Hayes, Roddy recalled, since Johnson — now 90 and present at the dinner — was a gynecologist.
Roddy’s life won’t fade into history, I was happy to find out. Katie Cooney, a freelance photographer who met Roddy a few years back on an assignment, is working on his biography.
SPECIAL MENTION >>
One of the consistent highlights at the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame dinner is the presentation of the award for Special Olympian of the Year, which this year went to Kris Peterson — a three-sport athlete with Special Olympics Northern California. Peterson, who is also a poet, received two standing ovations and delivered an eloquent, moving speech in which he said he embraces being a role model for people with differing abilities.
“We are all different and have ability,” he said. “I would not change one moment of the journey I’ve been on and continue to be on.”
ROLE REVERSAL >>
If people at People Acting in Community Together’s leadership luncheon Thursday were expecting to hear about Donald Trump, they got a surprise. Trump was called out — but not by Tom Steyer, who has launched a multimillion-dollar ad campaign endorsing Trump’s impeachment, but by Community Health Partnership CEO Dolores Alvarado, who received PACT’s Community Builder Award.
“We have a president who wants to build a wall,” said Alvarado, who got her start in community health care and community organizing while at UC Berkeley in the 1970s. “Let’s redefine our wall as a shelter that supports our communities, unifies our families, protects our children and seniors, values all sexual orientations and welcomes all colors.”
Steyer — who received PACT’s Hackworth Leadership Award along with his wife, Kat Taylor — avoided the T-word entirely in his speech, which focused on community building.
BIG NIGHT FOR EDUCATION >>
Seagate Executive Chairman Steve Luczo was honored with the Pioneer Business Award from the Silicon Valley Education Foundation at Wednesday’s 13th annual Pioneers and Purpose dinner, which raised $950,000 for the group. There were about 500 people at the dinner, held at the Fairmont San Jose, which also featured a video tribute to Muhammed Chaudhry, who recently stepped down as the education foundation’s CEO.
49ers Chairman John York, who worked with Chaudhry on the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute, introduced the video, and Chaudhry received commendations from Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Dave Cortese and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.
HERE COME THE HOLIDAYS >>
It seems like we just got through with Halloween, and Thanksgiving is still more than a week away, but we’re barreling into the Christmas season nonetheless.
Santana Row kicks things off with “Light Up the row,” its holiday tree lighting event Tuesday, which will include an Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt through many of the swanky shopping center’s stores beginning at 3 p.m. Youth performing arts groups will provide early entertainment starting at 5 p.m. before the main show at 7 p.m., which will feature performances by the Posse from NBC’s “World of Dance,” Children’s Musical Theater San Jose, San Jose Dance Theatre and the New Ballet School. Get the lowdown at www.santanarow.com.
The elves at Montalvo Service Group have also been working hard to put together this year’s Holiday Marketplace, which will feature 26 local vendors selling holiday art, decorations, photography, gourmet food items and more. It runs 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 16-18 at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga. A Yuletide Tea — with champagne for grownups and lots of kid-friendly activities — is also taking place there Nov. 19. There are seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., but reservations must be made by Nov. 13 at montalvoarts.org/holiday or by calling 408-961-5858.
HAVE A BEER FOR CAMPBELL THEATER >>
The Friends of the Heritage Theatre have partnered with Rock Bottom Brewery at the Pruneyard in Campbell for a fundraiser Monday. From 1 to 7 p.m., patrons who mention the Friends of the Heritage Theatre when ordering will have 15 percent of their bill donated to the nonprofit, which supports operations at the Campbell Heritage Theatre. Sounds like a great reason to go out for Monday Night Football.
CLUBHOUSE LEADER >>
A round of golf claps for Victor Arrañaga, board president of the First Tee of Silicon Valley, who received the First Tee’s leadership award at the group’s national network meeting in Orlando on Thursday. Arrañaga, the local government relations manager for HP, started the Eagles at Rancho del Pueblo youth golf program when he was the San Jose Sports Authority’s board chairman in 1999 and led the effort to have it become a First Tee chapter in 2005.
“He is a larger than life character, who has made it his personal mission to enrich the lives of our youth and community,” said George Maxe, executive director of the First Tee of Silicon Valley. “I truly cannot think of a more ideal individual to receive this prestigious national award.”
Contact Sal Pizarro at spizarro@ bayareanewsgroup.com.