Bridges Digital Archive: Audio and Video Recordings

Loading...

Media is loading
 

Document Type

Oral History

Publication Date

3-1-2016

Abstract

Carolyn Tillman interviewed Alton Garrett, a man with an extensive background in both the military and San Bernardino’s local community. Garrett explained that he arrived in San Bernardino in 1985 after spending time, while in the United States Air Force, in Korea. He also explained that he retired from the military in 1989 with twenty-seven years of experience, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and had joined the military due to being unable to pay for college at the time and not wanting a textile job. Some of his military ranks and positions included Chief Master Sergeant, an E4, and an E5. After leaving with a handful of years in service, Garrott returned after working in a bank where he was unhappy. While in the service, the interviewee had taken courses in the universities available and later used the remaining funds of his GI Bill to help him obtain a master’s degree. The topic returns to Garrott’s arrival at San Bernardino, which came about when he had moved away from Moreno Valley, where he previously commuted to the Norton Air Force Base. When he moved to San Bernardino, he worked as a bartender for the National Orange Show and then as the location’s Director of Sales and Marketing. The discussion moved toward WAG (The Westside Action Group), which became the focal point of the interview. Garrett talks about his time in WAG, a San Bernardino organization that works behind the scenes to address issues, cooperate with other community organizations, help local electoral campaigns, and with the local school district. At the time of the recording, he had been president again in 2007. One question that Tillman asked of Garrett was regarding the organization being able to claim credit and recognition for the impacts they have time. Time and time again, Garrett explained that the need to be given credit is not a focus on WAG since their goal is to aid in making things better, not to have the spotlight. There are also memories of people who were a big part of WAG and their attributions to the betterment of the organization and the community. Among the members of WAG, Garrett mentions the loss that the late Ratibu Jacocks left in WAG, Wilbur Brown’s extensive memory, and Wes Jefferson’s knowledge of the business world. There is also a mention of Hardy Brown as a founder of WAG, and his involvement in the school and local community, and then Don Townsend who created opposing conversations that allowed the other WAG members to view local opinions and matters differently. Townsend also allowed, infamously, for a politician who ran against Congressman George Brown to be interviewed by WAG without any knowledge of the organization. Garrott continues to talk about more important WAG members, such as Don Griggs and his knowledge of etiquette, Frank Stallworth as a skillful member of WAG, and Keith Lee as the once-president of WAG who had connections within San Bernardino County. Within the topic of education, Garret speaks about studying to get his master’s degree and working as a substitute teacher. He believed that knowledge is better shared than kept as it makes it usable. After discussing his work for three years in Habitat for Humanity with former President Carter, the interview ends with Garrett speaking about being raised by his grandparents and how his children, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren all work in or are in the education field.

Download Transcript

Share

COinS