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of Service; San Francisco Mayor Decrees George Cross Day |
SAN FRANCISCO - Oct. 23, 2000- Westin St. Francis bellman George Cross,
affectionately known as �King George,� was presented with an official Mayor�s
Proclamation, by the Honorable Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. on Friday, October
20, 2000, 10AM, in the Colonial Ballroom at The Westin St. Francis. George
was honored for 54 years of outstanding service at the historic Union Square
hotel.
Cross, 72 years old, is from Ashabuela, Ohio via the U.S. Navy.
He originally applied for a bellman�s position but the only job available
at the time was an elevator operator. He was told that �you have to work
your way up� to bellman. Over the next 54 years, he did just that and gained
a lifetime of friends and memories from the staff and guests he has worked
with at The St. Francis.
One of George�s most memorable occasions was being selected in 1951 to join Dan London, legendary St. Francis hotel manager, in welcoming General Douglas MacArthur back from Korea, at a victorious celebration at the Powell Street entrance. In addition, some of the memorable guests George has assisted include President Richard Nixon, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Louis B. Mayer, Mary Costa, Edwin Pauley, Jim Farley, Lee Marvin, Tony Randall, Tula Bankhead, Hilo Hattie, Jimmy Durante, Freddie Martin, Harry Owens, Lefty O�Doul, Bette Davis, Merv Griffin and Angie Dickinson. In 1996, George was honored by Westin Hotels and Resorts and received the Thruston-Dupar Inspirational Award in recognition of his outstanding service to hotel guests, to the hotel and to fellow employees. The award was established in 1958 throughout Westin Hotels and Resorts, to honor Mr. S.W. Thurston and Mr. F. Dupar, founders of Westin Hotels and Resorts. George spends his days off golfing with his buddies. He is also an avid reader and has an extensive collection of red wines. Westin Hotels and Resorts with more than 115 hotels and resorts in 23 countries, is owned by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. |
Marsha Monro 415/774-0381 [email protected] www.westin.com |
Also See | BRE / St. Francis L.L.C Acquires The 1,192 Room Westin St. Francis for $243 Million / Westin to Continue Management of the Historic Property / Jan 2000 |