One of America's great public forums - Press Club Salutes City Club's 30th

By Laura Walcher

He may be San Diego's Father of the Forum, and kudos are appropriately heaped upon him for providing us with three decades of programs that have elevated the cultural and civic level of our city, but when it came time to recognize the City Club's 30th anniversary in November, it turned out that nobody's more roastable than George Mitrovich.

While George can be counted on to present presidents, politicians, authors, and entertainers in the frequent City Club forums, he can also be trusted to drop all names, all the time, in a veritable deluge. "A roaster could not have a finer subject than George Mitrovich," said host Jack Monger.

If you know George, you'll remember that he once worked for Bobby Kennedy. (And if you don't, he'll remind you.) Malin Burnham shared the time in his youth he wrote an admiring letter to Bobby Kennedy and had the thrill of receiving a cordial response. "Every since I met George, though," he pondered from the podium, "I've worried that he may have been the one to sign that letter!"

Mitrovich's City Club has been recognized throughout the country as the finest forum of its kind. In its 30 years, over 800 fascinating speakers have been lured to San Diego to enlighten, entertain, and challenge us. Though often misunderstood, the City Club is, in fact, wholly nonpartisan. From Ted Kennedy to Pat Buchanan, Gloria Steinem to Jerry Falwell, Colin Powell to Oliver North, the City Club, says George, "faithfully honors the dialogue of democracy - a critical component of any free society."

The jokes on George took on his performance as the first baseman of the "Marston Mets" ball club; his role (or lack thereof) in the now-ancient Dominelli disaster, and the end of Roger Hedgecock as mayor. Roaster Jeff Marston joked, "Is he a civic anarchist, or an activist?"

In a side tribute, George Walker Smith noted Mitrovich's involvement in founding the Coalition for Racial Equality and the City Club's regular programs with the Catfish Club.

Posted Dec. 2004