All the stars come out at Omega event

Club celebrates 36th anniversary
By Richard Freedman

They were the golden nuggets at the end of the rainbow that started in Philmore Graham's garage 36 years ago. Robert Rigsby, president-appointed superior court judge. Dr. Richard Wright, department head at Oracle. Minister Jason Vernon. Gregory Howard, the man behind "Ali" and "Remember the Titans."

And the super athletes who tossed footballs and baseballs as kids in the aging building at Mini and Corcoran: C.C. Sabathia, Joe Thurston, David Bernstine, and Bobby Brooks.

It may be many hours after Saturday night's annual Continentals of Omega Boys and Girls Club Banquet, but it would still take a crowbar to pry the smile off Graham's face.

"I feel like a proud pop." Graham said. "We always like to show off our kids."

Every year they return to honor a mentor and, in many cases, a surrogate father who has helped send more than 5,000 young people out in the world. Among the members past a present, an extensive list of dignitaries and long time supporters.

And, as the 63-year-old Graham surveyed the 850 patrons who crammed McCormack Hall, he couldn't help but beam.

"I'm happy. I'm very happy," Graham said.

It began with the unparallel dessert of Gregory Allen Howard, a former Country Club Crest resident who went big-time on Graham, graduating from Princeton and solidifying his standing in Hollywood by penning Denzel Washington's "Remember the Titans" and "Ali." starring Will Smith.

"Vallejo to Hollywood was a road only one other Vallejoan had taken, and that was Raymond Burr about 100 years ago," Howard said. "Things happened here that inspired me and laid a foundation."

It was Dr. Howard Lonsdale, a local retired doctor, who urged Howard to attend Princeton, the screenwriter said. Howard was the first black Key Club member and, at 15, he was approached by Lonsdale who said, "I'm really impressed with you. When you start thinking about college, I want you to go to Princeton."

"I had not only applied to Stanford, but went to freshman orientation," Howard said, "I changed my mind at the last minute, mainly because of Dr. Lonsdale. It opened up a whole new world for me and made all the difference."

In an example of Omega's much-heralded "giving back" to the community, Howard not only invited Lonsdale to Saturday's gala hosted by KPIX-TV reporter Roz Plater, but donated $20,000 in scholarships to Omega in Lonsdale name.

"He wrote a letter of recommendation and opened the door for me," Howard said. "For me, it is about this journey.

That journey started in eighth grade when Howard and his Navy family moved to Vallejo.

"Omega was in its infancy then," Howard said. "Philmore was just getting it together, doing something positive. I can't say enough about him. He's a hero."

Though Howard lives in Alexandria, Va., he has to be connected to the Hollywood scene. And he misses the innocence of his Vallejo childhood.

"There was a certain small-town innocence here," he said. "Now, sad to say, because of the Internet and cable TV, there's no innocence anymore. You can't unscramble an egg unless you cut off all media, which you can't do."

That same media, Howard agreed, helps hype the movies he writes.

"Of course," Howard grinned, "It's a two-way sword."

Howard visits Vallejo "four or five" times a year to see his octogenarian parents, Lenard and Narcissus Henley.

"They're very much proud of me," Howard said, "Thy are from the Depression era. If you could survive and do honest work, you were a success. There was a high moral bar, but low economic bar. It's us younger and greedier people who set the economic bar higher."

Howard did his best to "give back" to Omega not just as a keynote speaker and big donation, but he spent several hours at the club Friday talking with the students about his life and career.

Pelton Stewart, Omega's executive director, was impressed.

"He's a fantastic example," Stewart said. "As he said himself, he went to the same schools, walked the same streets and dealt with the same issues as these kids and he made it. He's an example of what they can do."

Even before Howard became successful, "he gave back," Stewart said, laughing that perhaps Howard could write a "Titans" sequel called "Remember the Continentals."

"He hasn't forgotten." Stewart said. "I think that's an important message."