Walk of Fame 2015
By Chris Murphy
The Walk of Fame is the latest addition to the Modesto Historic Cruise Route celebrating our “Legends of the Cruise”. Permanent sidewalk markers honor each of our “Legends. The first cruise marker was presented to George Lucas during his appearance in Modesto for the Kiwanis Cruise Parade in 2013. In 2014 nine other markers joined George’s in a new special designated “Walk of Fame” that begins in 10th Street Plaza and will extend each year as new inductees are honored.
These are our hometown heroes. They shaped the lives of today’s generation, and thanks to them, Modesto, USA, is known worldwide for being the birthplace of American Graffiti. This is just the beginning, and the Historic Cruise Route is just getting started. More events, Legend inductees, monuments, and visitor experiences will be added each year for Graffiti Summer. New designs for a “retro 10th Street are being developed to make our Graffiti Story and benefit our local economy. Hopefully, we will have a Graffiti USA Museum soon.
The 2015 Legends of the Cruise Walk of Fame will be unveiled on June 10 during the Mid Valley Chevy Car Show on 10th Street. The car show starts at 5:30, and the presentation event will begin at 6:30. The 2015 Inductees are the late Gerry Ramirez and Bennie Furtado, along with Wendell Reed, Dennis Wilson, Charlie Reynolds, and the speed-shattering car club, the Century Toppers, represented by Gene Winfield, Bart Bartoni, and Pete Hischier.
Charlie Reynolds
Charles Reynolds arrived in the town of Ceres when he was 6. He graduated from Ceres High School in 1953 and started attending MJC. The era of American Graffiti was new, exciting, and alive!
Charles joyfully joined the cruise route with his new black 1955 Chevrolet before cruising his 1956 candy-apple-red Chevy, which he installed with a Paxton supercharger. He retired from cruising for his 1956 Corvette, finally culminating his cruising with a 1957 Chevy 270.
It was a joyful time, and Charles was alive to relive his young, carefree automotive days. These extended into his mid-years with both his sons, a trio cut from the same cloth.
Charles was overjoyed when his oldest son won the Master Class of Best Custom at the Grand Daddy Oakdale Auto Show in 1979. Then, his youngest son was honored and selected for the first full front-page cover of a pickup truck by Peterson’s Four Wheel Drive Magazine in 1991, which was chosen over many custom cars.
Charles never lost his happy memories of automobiles. He continues his senior years with pleasure and enthusiasm for all things automobile; his collection and restoration of early classics remain a part of his life.
The mission of the Walk of Fame is to highlight the character and history of Modesto and educate and illuminate these stories to citizens and visitors alike. The 2015 markers were donated and created by Chris Murphy, ModestoView, Sierra Pacific, and the hard work of Colin Sparkman and the DecoStone Concrete team, and United Signs and ColorCoat. I especially want to thank the City of Modesto, particularly Andy Johnson, for making it easy to create these events and team with the city to change our downtown positively.
