IN THE PIPELINE:

I was sitting in Springdale Country last week doing a book signing. In came a genial older man with a twinkle in his eye and an Air Force hat on his head. With a strong grip and a firm voice, he said, “I’m Noble Waite.”

He didn’t really need to introduce himself though. I’d just heard the day before that Waite had been selected as community grand marshal for the 2008 Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade. He and his lovely wife, Beverly, had stopped by to introduce themselves, because he’d been told I wanted to write a column about him. It was a great surprise, and over the course of our short visit, along with another conversation a few days later, I learned why Waite was so deserving of the honor.

Some background about his road to Huntington Beach: He was born Nov. 14, 1924, in Fallon, Nev. He moved to Huntington Park with his family at 2, and he graduated from Bell High School in 1942. From there it was on to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. After that, Waite joined the Air Force during World War II, and flew B-17s on 21 missions over Germany with the 8th Army Air Force.

He was considered the war’s youngest heavy bombardment pilot at that time, earning four air medals. Discharged as a first lieutenant, he attained the rank of captain while in the reserves. After coming home, Waite attended USC, graduating from its School of Pharmacy in 1949. He married his first wife of 44 years, Lenore Sly (with whom he’d go on to have four children). The family settled in Huntington Beach in 1949 and 1951, and Waite purchased the Main Street Drugstore at 201 Main St.

He vividly recalls how the drugstore became a community gathering place; a hub of activity where locals would congregate over breakfast, talk politics and solve the world’s problems. The soda fountain helped bring folks in, and for 15 years Noble wrote prescriptions — and kept the locals happy. He told me the pay phone was always in use — in fact, the phone company told him it made more money in that time than any other pay phone in Orange County. Why? Because lease agents from all over the world used it to phone in their lease deals on the oil that was being generated just a few blocks away.

He laughs when he recalls how different the city was back then, a smaller, tightly knit community where if a politician wanted proper consideration, they’d have to come hang out in the drugstore getting to know people.

In the 1960s, Waite closed the Main Street store and relocated to Beach Boulevard. Waite’s Drug Store continued to prosper until he sold it in 1980. Over the years he was voted Pharmacist of the Year by the Orange County Pharmacy Association. Waite served as a city councilman from 1958 to 1962.

In fact, Waite is Huntington Beach’s oldest living City Council member still residing in the community. He has served more and done more for his city, his family and his church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) than most people dream of doing. At 86, he is still strong and clearly has a lot of life left in him.

How does he feel being chosen as community grand marshal?

“What a grand feeling,” he tells me. “Not that I served the community for any attention. I just did what I did, and it’s so nice to see that my efforts were not forgotten.”

Noble Waite is from the generation of Americans who served their country quietly, with modesty, grace and courage. It seems he has lived his life the same way. And his first name suits him perfectly. Congratulate Noble on the Fourth of July if you see him. Or better yet, salute him.

For more information on the Fourth of July celebration, visit hb4thofjuly.org.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 14 books including the new “Huntington Beach Then & Now.” You can write him at [email protected].