It was late 2007, unusually muggy summer night at Shady Canyon Country Club. The crowd was mostly execs, mostly in suits. The guest of honor’s boss, Irvine Co. Chairman Donald Bren, sat front row.
The occasion was the retirement party for Director of Communications Larry Thomas. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Reiff opened, then the co-founder of Cornerstone Communications, Kathleen Freed, and Dan Young, former Santa Ana mayor and Irvine Co. executive.
“Larry’s Kids.”
LT’s turn … those in attendance recall the speech as an hour-long tour-de-force—eloquent tributes to company and colleagues between gulps of wine. Their memory is spot-on.
I remember the open.
“I make my decision. It’s time to go upstairs to tell Donald.
“He says, ‘Larry, what’s your biggest fear about retiring?’
“I said it’s not what you’re thinking, not what most people think. Do I have enough money?
“It’s drinking at breakfast.”
A friend of mine has forever been a Toastmasters stalwart. Some 25 years ago he implored me to hone those skills—practice, practice but speak with no notes and speak from the heart—and to preach those skills to students.
Solid advice. Raise the profile. Helps the career, especially in media. Respects your audience …
I got it. But I didn’t.
“No, Toastmaster Tom said, it’s not about your career. One day you’re going to speak at a loved one’s funeral. You don’t want to screw it up.”
I asked Dan Young what he might say, what stories he might tell at Larry Thomas’ Celebration of Life on July 1.
“I have so many stories with him,” Young said.
“Larry and I traveled a lot with the company and personally. I’ve got to start thinking about it. But I’ll be honest with you. I’ve just been very sad. Larry was one of a kind.” (see related story page 1).
Kudos to Business Journal Editor at Large Rick Reiff — OC Press Club Lifetime Achievement Award.
