Column: Fred Claire influenced my career in public relations

I met Jerry in January of 1969. We were junior communications majors at Cal State Fullerton.

We discovered we had much in common and became fast friends. In fact, looking back from a vantage point of almost 50 years, it was one of the closest friendships of my life.

We were both Southern Californians. I grew up in Costa Mesa, he in Covina. We were both U.S. Army vets. I’d served overseas in Korea, Jerry in Thailand.

We were community college graduates. I matriculated to Fullerton’s School of Communications from Orange Coast College, Jerry from Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

We were both officers in Fullerton’s campus club for public relations majors; we worked as partners on a half-dozen class projects (always earning As); we studied together for exams; we were members of a national honor society; and we graduated together with honors.

Plus (and here’s the added-value aspect), Jerry had Rams season tickets. We also attended many Angels games together.

We assembled our most comprehensive class project in the spring of 1970. The report examined public relations methods and strategies employed by American professional sports teams. Jerry and I developed a questionnaire and surveyed all P.R. practitioners in Major League Baseball, NFL football, NBA basketball and NHL hockey.

We also set up interviews with the PR directors of the Dodgers, Angels, Rams and Lakers.

Though college students, we were treated with respect by the public relations professionals, and we shared our data.

The guy we were especially indebted to was Fred Claire of the Los Angeles Dodgers. What a gentleman! Claire served in numerous capacities for the Dodgers from 1969 to 1998, including general manager. When we interviewed him in 1970; he was PR director then.

Now 81, Claire is battling a life-threatening illness at his home in Pasadena. Times columnist Bill Plaschke recently did a Sunday profile on him.

Claire dramatically influenced a number of my educational and career choices.

I called the Dodgers to arrange our interview in March 1970. Jerry and I were granted a mid-week, mid-morning appointment. The Dodgers at the time were at spring training in Vero Beach, Fla.

Jerry and I drove from Fullerton to Los Angeles on the appointed day. Upon our arrival at Dodger Stadium, we parked near the executive officesbetween the second and third decks above the left field foul pole.

We checked in at the front desk and Claire came out to greet us. After showing us his office – complete with spectacular view of the stadium and playing field – he invited us to accompany him to the second deck to enjoy the spring sunshine as we talked. We were delighted.

The grounds crew was busy preparing the emerald turf for the season opener with Cincinnati.

Before we took our seats, Claire gave us a mini tour of the stadium. After sitting down, Jerry and I pulled out our notebooks and portable tape recorders and began firing questions.

Claire couldn’t have been more generous. He was patient and answered every question. We told him we wanted to enter the field of sports public relations and marketing, and he provided insights, tips and encouragement.

Ninety minutes later, with all of our questions answered, Claire accompanied us to the parking lot and shook our hands.

“Good luck fellas,” he said. “I wish you success in your careers.”

We were pumped, and chattered non-stop all the way back to the Fullerton campus.

As it turned out, Jerry and I both entered the PR profession. He left the state and spent his career in governmental affairs. I spent 37 years as Orange Coast College’s community relations director.

And we had Claire to thank.

As each year slipped by I felt increasingly indebted to Claire. He didn’t have to take time to speak with us, but he did.

During my years at OCC, I had many occasions to discuss the public relations profession with students. I never once turned down a student interview request.

It was my way of saying thank you, Mr. Claire.

JIM CARNETT, who lives in Costa Mesa, worked for Orange Coast College for 37 years.