The Last Word

He's Mr. Irrelevant, Mr. Charitable, Mr. Trojan Booster, Mr.

Businessman and Mr. Newport Beach all rolled into one.

And now, thanks to Goodwill Industries, Paul Salata is the first to be

honored with its inaugural An American Tribute Award.

With about 700 on hand at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, Salata was

toasted and roasted in the genuine Salata-way by numerous admirers and

friends.

We count ourselves in that crowd as well.

As a former USC and pro-football player, Salata has done so much for

local charities and the athletic community, even starting up the Orange

County Youth Sports Foundation in 1971.

So in our own small, even irrelevant, toast to this "all around good

guy," we urge everyone to join us in an appropriate salute.

The Salata one clap.