Photograph by Robert Scheer
Former Public Safety officer Tony Maranon was chosen as a torchbearer in recognition of his visits to Santa Clara County schools to talk with students about drugs and peer pressure.
By KATHERINE PETERSEN
One former and one current Sunnyvale employee will take part in the Olympic torch relay on May 3, helping five Sunnyvale residents carry the flame along El Camino Real.
The torch will pass through Sunnyvale as it makes its way through 42 states en route to Atlanta for the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Games.
Former Public Safety officer Tony Maranon was chosen as a torchbearer in recognition of his work with Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa and his visits to Santa Clara County schools to talk with students about drugs, violence and peer pressure.
Maranon, 34, who became a paraplegic in a motorcycle accident while on duty in 1990, will ride in his wheelchair as part of the torch relay with his service dog, Quadrille.
Maranon and "Quad," a golden retriever, made a video that discusses laws requiring service dogs be allowed in such places as restaurants and festivals with their owners. Maranon's video will be distributed to police departments in Northern California.
"Many officers don't realize what the laws are," Maranon said after describing an incident in which he had difficulty entering a festival in San Jose. He said officers helped him out that day because he had a police badge, not because they were familiar with guide and service-dog laws.
Maranon said he might also work part-time for Sunnyvale Public Safety as a dispatcher.
He began visiting local schools first as a thank-you for the gifts, cards and computer games he had received from students.
"Then I started talking with them about drug abuse and peer pressure. I also wanted to teach them not to make fun of disabled people," said Maranon. He said he has always felt protective of his brother, who has Down's syndrome.
"I love talking with kids. I enjoy seeing their smiling faces," Maranon said.
Jim Webb, 47, an administrative assistant to Sunnyvale's city manager, was chosen to carry the torch for his work with the city's Libraries Commission.
While serving as commission chairman, Webb led a citizens' group that campaigned for a 1994 ballot measure to create a library benefit district in San Jose. Voters approved the measure, which will raise $56 million for libraries over 10 years. The funding will go toward increasing children's programs and acquiring new materials, such as books and technology.
Webb, who had been on the Libraries Commission for four years, said the citizens group was an outgrowth of his commission involvement.
"I could see there were problems--not enough books, staff or technology. It was clear the [libraries] needed more revenue," he said.
He became involved with the commission as a way of giving something back to his community.
"If everyone gives back a little bit, it makes it better for everybody," he said.
Webb is honored to be a part of the Olympic torch relay and said he will carry it for his family, the library support community and the city in which he lives.
"I didn't expect to be selected. It didn't hit me how important the honor was until I met some of the other people who were selected," Webb said.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, March 27, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.