HomeMy WebLinkAboutSLOJX City FlagSAN LUIS OBISPO CITY FLAG
Joseph A. Carotenuti
As one of the oldest settlements in California, San Luis Obispo traces its
civic ancestry back to September 1, 1772 when Franciscan Padre Junipero
Serra first tolled a bell to celebrate the founding of the fifth mission. While
there was no intention of establishing a secular community, one evolved
around the adobe symbol of a spiritual one. Eventually, the city’s official
identification reflected the aged structure.
Here’s the story.
In preparation for the its Bicentennial Year, residents were invited to submit
designs for the first official flag. Submissions were to measure three by four
and one-half feet. The 45 designs were judged by a Design Review Board
that later became the Architectural Review Commission with a top prize of
one hundred dollars. Residents also cast their opinions as the models were
displayed on downtown light standards for viewing and voting.
It was a hot Saturday afternoon on September 11, 1971 when a program not
only to inaugurate the Bicentennial Year but to dedicate the second phase of
the Mission Plaza extension was celebrated by hundreds of residents. Led by
Mayor Kenneth Schwartz, everyone was wondering who among the three
finalists… Nejat Erem, Marion Kay, and Vickie Reynolds…would see their
creation as the first City flag.
The winning design and manufacture had been kept secret with the three
finalists announced just a few days before the ceremony. Suspense built as
the third-place winner of the $25 prize was announced…and then the second
place submission ($50). In a moment of civic and personal drama, an 8 x 12
foot flag with the winning design was raised over Mission Plaza. It suddenly
became clear…Marion Kay remembers saying to herself in amazement: “I
won!”
Indeed, she had. Artist Kay’s submission: a stylized mission bell amid a
blue, yellow and white background spent its first official day next to the
Stars and Stripes and the California State flags. A formal Resolution on
September 20 adopted her submission as the official City flag.
Marion explains the yellow used in her original design represents the golden
hills and mountains, the cobalt blue for clear skies and the curving white
center design for the San Luis Creek flowing through the community. In
acknowledgement of its historic past, an arch (reminiscent of mission
architecture) surrounds the bell that dominates the flag. However, changes in
the lettering of the original design occurred during the manufacturing
process.
As with so much of the decades-long debate over the evolution and
construction of the Mission Plaza, the flag produced its own bit of anxiety.
Made by a firm in San Francisco, there was a delay in shipping the flag to
San Luis Obispo. Thanks to a quick drive by the City Clerk (J. H.
Fitzpatrick) to the manufacturer at the “eleventh” hour, the flag arrived in
time for the ceremony. While retired, this original flag survives in a personal
collection.
Marion Kay recalls approaching the contest with methodical planning to
create a “pleasing design” as well as colors to complement the City’s natural
and historical assets. Part of the process included creating accurate paper
patterns using the Libra design for the lettering on the flag. Once completed,
the letters – now cut from fabric - were sewn onto the flag.
While not uniformly applied, virtually everyone in the community sees the
design - or an adaptation of it - on a daily basis. The elegant city logo is seen
on municipal vehicles, uniforms, letterheads, advertisements, and brochures,
even busses…although the latter omit the stripe between the blue and gold.
The distinctive original letter design is used on virtually all municipal signs.
Ironically, the Libra letter design is used everywhere but on the flag.
Having the three flags in the Mission Plaza was preceded with fundraising
for the flagpoles. The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo (at the time there was
only one Rotary in the City while today there are three) donated three
flagpoles appropriately dedicated during the previous Fourth of July
festivities. The Rotary Four-Way Test was included on the dedicatory plaque
to remind generations to come of changeless values for our country, our
community and ourselves.
The slightly altered flag is seen today only in Mission Plaza and in the City
Council chambers. Wouldn’t it be appropriate to have the original design
fluttering over City Hall on a new flag standard?
As residents and visitors enjoy our community, the three flags in rhythm
with the breeze are satisfying reminders of our past as a Nation, State and
City as well as beacons of hope and promise for our future.
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Thank you to Marion Kay and Ken Schwartz for sharing their memories.
The Historical Society has replicates of the original design for sale in the
Museum’s Gift Shop.