Former Gravel Magnate Chlell L. Pharris Dies

A memorial service will be held Tuesday for Chlell Lawrence “C.L.” Pharris, former owner of one of the largest sand and gravel producers in the country. Pharris died of a stroke at his Villa Park home last Tuesday. He was 84.

Revered as an innovative businessman, Pharris began his company in 1945 with a six-wheel bobtail truck that he used to haul asphalt. He later helped design the first heavy-duty 10-wheel trucks that enabled him to haul massive loads.

By 1952, he obtained the first leasing rights to mine and sell sand from the Santa Ana River. His company, later established as C.L. Pharris Sand and Gravel Inc., in Orange, was well known for creating two artificial fishing lakes, the Anaheim Lake and the Santa Ana River Lake.

His company continued to expand in the 1970s, operating in areas as far as Redlands and the Inland Empire. In 1989, the company moved its headquarters in Orange County to Riverside.

In 1992--after six decades in the sand and gravel producing industry--he sold his company to Cemex of Monterrey, Mexico, the largest cement producer in the world.

In his private life, Pharris was a family man who was involved in community life in Anaheim and Orange. He was a co-founder and first president of the East Anaheim Little League.

He was active in Pop Warner Football and was a longtime member of the Orange Elks Club. He also helped establish the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Orange.

“Although he was a very successful businessman, he took the most pride in his family life,” son Ron Pharris said. “That always came first and foremost to him.”

The elder Pharris is survived by his wife of 59 years, Genevieve Pharris; daughter Sue Tallman; sons Jerry, Ronald and Larry Pharris; and 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

The memorial service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1855 Orange Olive Road, Orange. Pharris will be buried at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton.