received from Howard July 21,2003

Bob

    Well, not exactly the first. It was the first use of a closed circuit system to enlarge a courtroom - anywhere.  It was the first use of a TV camera in a CA courtroom -- but not for broadcast, we were enlarging the courtroom for the judge.  That was important in getting them in permanently later.  We pioneered that use and paved the way for the rest.

    Judge Walker let us use a camera in the courtroom, despite Rule 980 of the California Judicial Council, which was passed in 1967 forbidding cameras in the courts.  (The rule was passed in 1967, but no TV cameras had been in the courts before that.  Press still- cameras yes, sometimes, depending upon the judge.)

    CA was way behind the times.  The Colorado Supreme Court, for instance, had allowed TV filming (this was a long time ago) of court trials beginning in 1954.  It was 1984 before CA changed the rule to let TV cameras in the courts (and press still-cameras).  But we helped get the approval started.   I believe you and I were the reception committee which put on a demonstration for the California Judicial Council in the Judge's chambers on a Friday afternoon -- court was not in session.   It was the Judicial Council that imposed the ban, and which had to be persuaded to lift the ban.  Took them forever to think it over, and meanwhile TV was becoming commonplace in other states' courts.

    I wrote an article on that for the RTNDA.  That did not give credit to all who worked on it.    We did gave everybody credit in an article for the CBS in-house newsletter.  Do you have that?  I have stuff buried in boxes in the garage. 

   Oh, yes.  I was Editorial Director, 12 years, 1964 to '76, and  the person in the station most active in the camera battle -- for years.  I still am a little bit.  Part of my long Freedom of Information struggles started in the newspapers.  Like working with Assemblyman Bagley to get a State Open Records Act passed and signed by Reagan.  Lot of people involved in that, like Broadcasters Assn and Publishers Assn., but I was our station activist-- starting with Roy Heatly till he left.  Other ND's always helped.  When we got permission to put that camera in for the Sirhan trial, which started in Jan. 1969,  it came at a meeting with the judge and newspaper and TV guys from all over the state.  When the meeting ended, Clayton Brace, VPGM of KGTV in San Diego, told me, "You've got to do it.  We're all from out of town"  (Except LA Times Managing Editor.)  I yelled for help, and you guys, Eddie Miller and Norm Cobb, and CBS prop dept., etc. more than a dozen in all,, came up with the hidden camera model  in an air conditioner box -- terrific thing.  And NBC and ABC helped. 

  -0-

   Reading your note again, you said send a bio.  The above sort of looks like a piece of that.  But that's our story - you and I. 

   Bio: 

   Quit CBS (KNXT then) in 1976, for a PR job at SoCal Edison.  Quit because I wouldn't stay with Chris Desmond.  Put up with him for six months and then gave notice - 8 or 10 weeks till the 1976 elections were over.  Called Edison senior VP, was hired 45 minutes later.

   Several PR jobs for next 11 years -- Edison, Tiger International, Metropolitan Water District, and then, mainly in government relations,  Southern California Physicians Insurance Exchange -- medical malpractice insurance company, and like the other jobs, all fascinating in their own way. 

    Retired in 1989, moved to Vista, a house on a country club golf course.  I'd played a little, very little and almost exclusively, at CBS Golf Club.  Joined the country club a year after moving here.  Have given it up, almost.  Still lousy.   Maybe if had more time, but retirement turned into a full-time job.  First, during the drought was drafted in 1991 on the Vista Irrigation District Board, appointed to a vacancy, had to run for election a year later, unopposed then and in two subsequent elections.  (Lot of members of the Board of Directors have been opposed and beaten, but I've been unopposed every time).   In late 1993 was appointed by the Vista Board to be a member of the Board of San Diego County Water Authority, which provides 90% of the water used in the coastal area of SD Co.  We get it from Metropolitan Water District, where I once worked, which gets it from Northern Calif and the Colorado River.  This 35-person Board of Directors includes a County Supervisor, Some smaller town Mayors, a lot of people like me who are elected to their own local water Boards and are appointed to the SDCWA Board. 

   Tremendous amount of friction, dirty politics, self-serving angling for money in -- like law or PR connections or consulting.  A mess.  We've spent millions trying to tear Metropolitan Water District apart - but the problem is down here.  Mayor of San Diego appoints 10 Directors, some good, some bad.  Susan Golding left a bad bunch -- mainly, with exceptions of course.   New Mayor of SD, Dick Murphy, who  is great but unfortunately doesn't want to run for governor like Pete Wilson did, is slowly undoing Golding's damage. 

   Those jobs take full time -- 60 hours if I'd give it.  Several Board meetings a month, plus humongous home work.  Both Boards (staffs) moved into new buildings which we built in Vista and San Diego in 2000.  Lots of activity.  Lots of dirt, lots of lies.  Fun.    

    Actually, my fun job has been on the Advisory Committee for Palomar Airport in Carlsbad -- since 1991.  It's the only airport in the county (Besides Lindbergh) from which you can go through security screening and not have to do it again until you arrive in LA, by commuter, and go on to NY or Rome or ... say Budapest, which Ann did without me a few years ago.  Busiest single runway, non-commercial (just commuter planes) airport in the country.  Appointed by the Board of Supervisors several times,  and latest term runs out in Jan 07.  Most of our activity relates to noise complaints -- like Burbank, which of course is much bigger.  I have enjoyed hanging out at the airport.   

     See  www.SDCWA.org   and www.vid-h2o.org for the water business.   Or the SD Co. page for Dept of Public works, airports.  I have a personal web page name locked up, but no time to start it going.  Maybe now.  We both have new computers, digicams, DVD and CD burners. 

    It's interesting being in politics.  Much different than in the newspapers or TV.  Now I complain that reporters can't get their stories straight.   I grab the papers to see if they quoted me correctly.  Big switch.  Actually, they've been good (I'm one of their own).   

    Lovely bride Ann, whom I met at University of Tennessee in Knoxville during WWII, when the Air Corps sent me there briefly, is a dynamo.  Hasn't gained an ounce since those days, now 80 and still mainly natural light brown hair - turning gray slowly.   Both of us are in perfect health.  I'm staying trim, about like when at the station.  Our son is in Tucson.  He's the one who graduated from UC Irvine in computers when he was 18.  Married a Granada Hi classmate, Melinda Boehm, when they were 19 - that was in 1977.  He had a good job, she continued in school and graduated from Univ. of Denver in 1980, and is now a CPA.  They have two girls, 13 and 6.    All we know -- have ever known -- about his work is that he is in missiles. 

    We've chased around the world a bunch,  do a lot of spur-of- minute trips.   Never enough time.  Like most retirees.  Enjoy keeping up with CBSers, and a lot of LA newspaper people down here, and in constant contact with press people around the country.

   If I had an editorial to do today about what's happening in this country......Education is our biggest problem.  Then the folks wouldn't buy the misdirection they get from this one and that one.   Is there hope?  Nope.  Nothing has changed in thousands of years.  

   So let me know what you are doing -- can I send a picture email?       howie

Howard Williams and wife Ann.