A packed Orradre Building at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds Saturday night saw Mickey and Patty Hearne honored Saturday night as citizens of the year by the King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.

Linda Benway presented the speech for the Hearnes, drawing up fond memories, and interjecting enough humor to keep everyone clapping and laughing. The following are key points from her speech"

Sit back, relax, and pour another glass of wine, because I have a story to tell you about two very special people who were born and raised in King City and decided to return and raise their family here, and we are better for it.

When I came here 37 years ago there was one piece of advice someone gave me: Don't say anything about anyone because you don't know who they are related to. The Hearnes, for example, are related to the Barbree, Plaskett, Garcia, Keefer, Guidici, Ferreira, Nino, Bray, Namples, Camirino, Silveria, Padilla, Woods, and Petrovic families. On the other side, the Plasketts are related to the Eade, Bray, Schmidt, Woods, Mansfield, Sands, Cosby, Pozzi, Bengard, Harless and Villegas families.

The history of Mickey Hearne starts with his parents, Larry and Irene Hearne, who in 1938 moved to King City from San Bruno to start the LA Hearne Warehouse at 1023 Broadway where they processed and bagged the famous "King City Pink Beans."

That company still exists, and has grown into so much more, now including grain, feed, fertilizer, seed, supplies and western clothing and apparel.

Mickey started life in King City living on Lynn Street, as Frank Hearne. His name isn't actually Mickey, but that came from a nickname after popular cartoon character Mickey Mouse.

One can think of those fond memories: Four brothers, two sets of bunk beds, a sister to terrorize and a pot of beans on the stove all the time. Of course, in today's economy this may be happening again.

In high school, Mickey played football and track. When not doing sports there was always an "executive" position for a young Hearne at the warehouse. They were in charge of the broom, the paint brush, and the toilet bowl brush, and anything else dad felt they needed to learn about the "business." There, you truly worked from the bottom up!

Mickey graduated KCHS in 1960, where he went off to San Jose State for one year, then to Hartnell.

Patricia Ellen Plaskett Hearne was born Aug. 15, to Cyril and Margaret Plaskett at the King City Hospital. She was delivered by her dad because the doctor and nurse didn't quite make it in time for delivery. Did they get a delivery discount?

She grew up in the country with the love of the outdoors and animals. She got a Holstein calf for her birthday one year, from Pozzi's Dairy, and loved the little calf until it grew up. She and her sisters took turns milking it before and after school. However, it became a pain when they got older and wanted to go out on a date. Sometimes they would get lucky and their date would help them milk the cow. "I've got a surprise for you in the barn..."

All her brothers and sisters agree that Patty has a beautiful voice, in addition to her playing the guitar and writing songs and poems. She loved spending her summers at their cabin on Plaskett Ridge and graduated from KCHS in 1961 and went off to Hartnell.

Did she date Mickey in High School? "Oh, God no! Mickey was a free spirit with a twinkle in his eye."

In the Hartnell library studying, Peter Bengard took Patty's books and gave her a note: "You will not get these books back unless you have a date with Mickey Hearne. Check yes or no." Being the diligent student that she was, let's say the rest is history.

They married in the fall of 1962, in St. John's Church and the reception was held at the Old Camino Hotel. The couple were ready to leave in Mickey's "Salmon colored convertible" with Limburger Cheese tires. Needless to say, the honeymoon got off to a "memorable start."

They started married life in San Luis Obispo with Mickey attending Cal Poly and Patty working at Bank of America.

Along came Irene in 1963 (first of their four children) and Barbara in 1964.

Mickey graduated in 1964, taking 24 units his last quarter and making the Dean's list. His Senior Project at Cal Poly developed into the family mill, which is in San Lucas. They moved back to King City to the Harless Ranch and started a cattle feedlot and raised pigs, where the current LA Hearne Store is now. Tim said they even had a pig named "Zazu Pitts."

In 1966, along came their first son. Mickey liked the name "Steven" while Patty liked the name "Patrick" so they named him Steven Patrick. Mickey called him Steven and Patty called him Patrick. The poor kid had an identity crisis. I don't know what it is with this family and names!

In 1970, their second son was born. Tom, named after Tomcat.

The kids started school and Patty started working part time at LA Hearne's, where she learned about feed, fertilizer and chicks, she didn't have to start with the broom, paint brush, or toilet brushes. She was on the executive fast track.

With the kids growing up came Mickey and Patty's started their involvement in kid's activities. Mickey was T-ball coach, Little League Coach, and Pop Warner Football coach for over 15 years, even after his own kids were not in the programs.

Patty started her 18-year involvement with 4-H, as Community Leader for 10 years in such projects as swine, sheep, horse, and many more activities.

Of course Mickey and Patty are great supporters each year of the 4-H and FFA animal auction, not only at the SVF, but also at the Mid State, San Benito, and Monterey County Fairs.

Patty went to work full time at LA Hearne's. What started as an addition of "some jeans" by Dennis became a full-blown retail clothing store in town and Patty's involvement in the King City Chamber of Commerce.

Patty said, "I wanted to help promote business in King City. A few of us gals got together and created a branch of the chamber called the Merchants Committee. We met at breakfast at the old downtown Keefer's at 7 a.m. on Tuesday mornings and discussed town wide promotions such as 'Mad Hatter Days' where the merchants wore crazy hats and decorated their store windows."

They also had fashion shows and started the Fair kick-off dinner to raise money for the Chamber. Well, that started a 32-year commitment that has seen Patty become President of the Chamber and she co-chaired the Merchant Committee for 15 years with Becky Tully and Vonna Borzini and worked on many projects with Suzanne Krause, Robyn DaRosa, Debbie Pettitt, Claudia Larson, Gerri Ramirez and many more. Those were the days when the women were called "Chamber Maids."

Back at the warehouse, the business was expanding and so was Mickey's commitment to King City. In 1965, he didn't have anything else to do on Monday nights and he loved Old Man Pozzi's peas and carrots, so he joined the King City Lions Club. It has been over 49 years that Mickey has been a very active and dedicated member. And, to eat that many peas and carrots, and dye that many Easter eggs, you better be dedicated. Mickey was President in 1983 and 1984 and the "Lion of the Year" twice.

Another natural fit for Mickey was the Salinas Valley Fair Board. In the early 1980s he became the Head of the Floriculture Department for over 20 years. He served on many committees, and guess who was always by his side acting as judge and his best volunteer worker? Patty. So when Mickey stepped down, Patty stepped in as Head of the Floral Department, except now when they went to convention Patty still went to all the meetings and luncheons, but Mickey was off biking, running or skiing. Smart guy.

Patty has also worked on the Miss SVF Hostess Contest for many years and of course chaired the kick-off dinner/dance, which she started so many years ago with the Chamber of Commerce.

Another project near and dear to Mickey in which he was instrumental was the start up of the Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum (MCARLM). He had a great time working with Tom Twaits, Frank Taylor, Bert Kerns and Katherine Whitney. Of course, by his side was his very best volunteer, Patty. Her project became Valley Heritage Days. She co-chaired with Debbie Pettitt during its first parade and fundraiser, a dinner and fashion show. Then, who could forget the "pink bean" cook off contest. I think LA Hearne won a couple of them!

The only house they have owned is the one in Pine Canyon and it is the "birth place" in 1974 of the SOMOCO Fire Dept.

Patty was a co-chair of the Hartnell Foundation fundraiser, which brought the Hartnell campus to King City.

They were Mustang Bench members and supporters, who donated the "Big Blue Building" when the "All weather" track was built at KCHS. Both are also members of the Salinas Valley Fair Heritage Foundation.

Then, when Mickey found another couple of free hours, and Mee Memorial Hospital needed some help, that little stay lasted for seven years. He became Secretary/Treasurer.

As we all know, Mickey is an avid runner, which is an understatement.

To know someone who has run in one marathon is one thing, but to have run in over 20 marathons all over the world is another. Wildflower Triathlon, Big Sir Marathon, Chicago, New York, Dublin, Ireland, San Francisco, Italy, Calgary, Canada, Napa, Las Vegas, and the World Famous Boston Marathon three times.

In this past New Year's Day Rio Run, Mickey was not able to run after participating for the past 20 years, so his family and friends organized "Running for Mickey." More than 100 in the picture, now, that's what I call friends!