Why Modesto is considering pulling off ex-city councilman's name from West Side park?
Modesto has been asked to rename a park in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
About a half-dozen people asked the City Council this week to change of the name of Mellis Park and its King-Kennedy Memorial Center in honor of the slain civil rights icon. They said naming the park and center after King is a way of taking a stand against racism, bigotry and other wrongs and paying proper respect to King.
“Especially in today’s world, where we are all fighting for equal justice and for equal rights, Martin Luther King is a leader of that,” said one speaker. “And therefore, his name should be totally recognized in an area that is predominately people of color. ... He fought for equal rights and he fought for equal justice.”
Sebastian Jones, one of the speakers, turned in a petition with 140 signatures in support of the name change.
But Davis High School history teacher Frank Blanas told council members that while he appreciates and supports King’s high ethical standards and achievements, it would be a sad day if the city changed the park’s name. He said the Mellises made important contributions in Modesto’s Greek Orthodox community, and three of their children had a big impact on the city.
Modesto named the west Modesto park after Dan Mellis and his son, George, in November 1964.
Dan Mellis died in 1960 and was a former councilman and business and community leader. His business ventures included a chain of liquor stores in Modesto and Stockton. He was one of the founders and first president of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, according to Bee archives. He also was a close friend of then Gov. Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, the father of California’s current governor.
George Mellis was a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge. He died in August 1964 of cancer at the age of 43, according to Bee archives.
Blanas also mentioned two of George Mellis’ siblings. Asineth Mellis, who died in 2002, was a longtime Modesto City Schools counselor and administrator and was known for her tireless efforts on behalf of deserving students who needed scholarships. Tom Mellis, who died in 1990, was a major figure in Modesto sports.
He helped start the California Relays — a world-class track and field meet — was the founding father of the Sportsmen of Stanislaus Club, and after World War II, helped revive the California League and the Modesto Reds, according to Bee archives. He also was a civic leader.
Blanas said the Mellis family shared King’s values and beliefs.
He said if the council changes the park’s name then Modesto will have no parks or civic buildings that recognize the achievements of Modesto’s Greek Americans. He said if the council decides to change Mellis Park’s name, he asked that it consider renaming Standiford Park next to the Greek church in honor of the Mellises.
The speakers spoke during what is called public comment at Tuesday’s council meeting. That means their request was not part of the council’s regular business and the council took no action.
Modesto spokeswoman Heather Graves said the process to rename a city park starts with someone making a request before the city’s Culture Commission. She said the process includes public outreach, and the city would hold a meeting to gauge interest in changing the park’s name.
She still was researching the process of how to change the name of the King-Kennedy Memorial Center, which opened in 1969 and is named after King and President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Robert, according to Bee archives.
This story was originally published January 19, 2018 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Why Modesto is considering pulling off ex-city councilman's name from West Side park?."