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.
Gerry Ramirez
Geraldine C. (Gerry) Ramirez was Modesto’s Carhop, and Burge’s Drive-in was the place that started it all.
The unique round drive-in was a refreshing motorist beacon along Highway 99 in years after the end of the war when car travel became popular. But in the evenings, Burge’s became a place for the youth of Modesto to hang out. The classes of ’47 to ’67 made the weekend evenings a happening place. ModestoView readers get an exclusive look at rare Burge’s photos thanks to the personal photo collection of Tony Ramirez, son of long time Burge’s carhop, Gerry Ramirez. Both of Tony’s parents worked at Burge’s. “It was a special time,” Tony says, ”I had the most interesting childhood, and my parents were amazing. The friends and family from those days were a special part of my life”
Gerry and Tony Ramirez were at Burge’s from day one. Gerry, born in Tuttle, Oklahoma, on 9-21-1926, has been immortalized in the few photos that exist of Burge. Tony was a soda jerk at Burge’s and kept the place moving fast and satisfying hungry customers. The carhops worked hard and long hours. They hustled and had to juggle the cars, sometimes stacked 3-5 deep. Gerry was on the job from the day Burge’s opened until it closed in 1967. Gerry passed away June 8, 2011, and is remembered fondly by many of Modesto’s original cruisers. She is survived by her son Tony and daughter Debra.
Burge’s and Gerry symbolize Modesto’s amazing cruising and Graffiti history.
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.
