Gary's Hometown

This is a picture of the arch with Modesto's motto, "Water Wealth Contentment Health". This was not the slogan that actually won the motto contest near the turn of the century. The slogan that won--but was rejected by everyone who heard it but the judges--was "You Can't Get Our Goat."

Modesto is best known for a fellow John Muir Elementary and Thomas Downey High grad George Lucas whose American Graffetti is the story of living in Modesto. I lived one block from the Lucas family but never met him as there is about an eight year age difference. The city has erected a statue to Lucas and cruising as depicted in American Graffiti but the irony is that the city council outlawed cruising years before they celebrated the activity with a statue. Do as we say--not as we did.

Modesto is also known for Gary Condit but I would like to quickly point out that he lived in Ceres.  That really says it all.

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