LA HABRA : Advice Sought in Park Name Change

By MIMI KO

June 9, 1993 12 AM PT

The City Council, unable to decide whether to rename El Centro Park after the late Ramon T. Hornbuckle, has agreed to seek a recommendation from the Community Services Commission.

Hornbuckle, a community leader who was known for arranging free eye exams and getting eyeglasses for needy children in the La Habra area, died of cancer in April. He was 69.

La Habra Lions Host Club members asked the city to rename the park, where Hornbuckle’s memorial service was held, to honor Hornbuckle’s dedication to the community.

After council members deadlocked twice on whether to change the park’s name, they finally decided to refer the matter to the Community Services Commission for a recommendation. The council also required that the commission come up with guidelines for future park name-change requests.

Hornbuckle “loved that park,” said Chuck Overbey, chairman of the north Orange County region of the Lions Club. “It would be a wonderful tribute to immortalize him by renaming El Centro Park the Ramon T. Hornbuckle Park.”

Hornbuckle, who was a member of the Lions Club for 30 years, raised $2 million during that time. The money was used to help the poor in a variety of ways, Overbey said.

“I had the pleasure of having known (Hornbuckle),” Councilman Juan M. Garcia said. “He rightfully deserves to have something named after him.”

Garcia suggested that the park be renamed Ramon T. Hornbuckle El Centro Park. Garcia and Councilman Steven C. Anderson said they were ready to vote in favor of the change Thursday night but were persuaded by Mayor William D. Mahoney and Councilman James Flora to wait for a recommendation from the commission. Councilman David M. Cheverton was absent.

“We are setting a precedent here, and I want to make sure that once we set it we can live with it,” Mahoney said. “I’m not sure I’m ready to say yes and not be ready for the next one. We need a standard.”

The commission will vote on the name change this month, and the City Council is expected to vote on the recommendation in July.