A LOOK BACK:

At the start of 1967 several of our residents made New Year’s resolutions, and I wonder how many kept them. It was 40 years ago that former Huntington Beach City Atty. and Judge of the Superior Court, Charles Bauer, of 1737 Park St., wanted to see the election of a Republican governor of California like Ronald Reagan, and a chance for an old Kansan like himself to get a higher judgeship appointment.

Carolee and Gary Donaldson, who owned the Villa D Sportswear at 113 Main St., wanted to be successful in their latest venture, the “Sandal Cellar” in the basement of their women’s ready-to-wear business.

Auto tire specialist, W.R. Boydston, of Bill’s Tire at 416 Fifth St., wanted as many years in the future as he enjoyed in the past in selling and servicing tires.

Thomas J. Broderick of 1820 Park St. and headman at the new Huntington Intercommunity Hospital on Beach Boulevard made a resolution to hold the hospital’s grand opening on time.

Realtor Charles V. Colstadt’s resolution was for an opportunity to sell Ted Hansen all the property he wanted so he could build apartments.

Former Huntington Beach weatherman, cactus grower and Huntington Beach Company manager, J. Sherman Denny, of 1745 Pine St., wished for more time to attend public functions, to keep up his house and office, and to mend his social and hobby fences.

Charles Gray, manager of Edward’s Huntington Cinema at 18543 Main St., wanted the same crop of sub-par television shows to continue so the public would come back to the walk-in movies.

Prominent Huntington Beach dentist Dr. Douglas Hough of 103 ½ Main St. made a resolution to learn to say “Mele kalikimaka ame ka hauoli makahiki hou,” without hesitation or stuttering.

Former Huntington Beach Country Club proprietor Robert “Bullets” Marshall wanted to persuade more friends to listen to him sing “The Tennessee Waltz.”

Karen Thomas of the Surf Theatre just wished for teenagers to behave themselves while watching movies. Mason Siler and Joe Hamann, managers of the Lido and Mesa theaters, resolved to make a special trip to Huntington Beach to see how Thomas was going to accomplish this.

Thirty years ago, in 1977, several citizens made Christmas wishes of what they’d always wanted but been afraid to ask for, including Councilman Ted Bartlett. He said he had been mayor so many times that it didn’t interest him any more. He had enough to worry about getting gas for his gas station at 303 Main St.

City Administrator Bud Belsito just wanted to sell the City Council on his zero-budgeting program.

Councilwoman Harriett Wieder’s wish was to either get elected full-time mayor or run for the county board of supervisors.

Steve Holden’s wish was to win the election to Dennis Carpenter’s 36th District State Senate seat. Bob Terry and Dave Garofalo wished for the time and money to restore their classic 1953 Buick Roadmaster woody station wagon.

Bill Reed of the city’s public information office wished editors would appreciate the wonderful stories he wrote about our city. Police Chief Earle Robitaille wished for a few more patrol cars and about 50 new officers.

Realtor Judy Young wished for enough loose change to buy that 1939 Mercedes-Benz single-seat roadster. Mayor Ron Pattinson wished to know why people elected him mayor.

Pharmacist Jack Yang wished business that Christmas would justify celebrating Chinese New Year in fashion.

Surfboard shop owner Gordie Duane wished his “Hole in the Wall” gang would never be defeated.

Councilwomen Norma Gibbs wished for the time and money to do as much traveling as Don Shipley. Surfer George Draper wished to be allowed to win once.

Hilltop Liquor owner Joe Irvine wished for a little traveling music. Lenny Lindborg wished to play tennis at his racquet club.

Realtor Darrel Ward wished to thank Lindborg for putting him on his staff. Chamber of Commerce manager Ralph Kiser wished the City Council would get out of the real estate business.

Fire Chief Ray Picard wished for the money to repair the city’s big snorkel truck.

City Atty. Don Bonfa wished that in the battle for city attorney, his opponent Gail Hutton wasn’t so pretty.

And the best one of all came from City Clerk Alicia Wentworth, who wished all City Council meetings closed at 10 p.m.

JERRY PERSON is the city’s historian and a longtime Huntington Beach resident. If you have ideas for future columns, write him at P.O. Box 7182, Huntington Beach, CA 92615.