Will Rogers Race: ‘40’ and Counting

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

On July 4, the Palisades-Will Rogers 5/10K Run will celebrate its 40th anniversary and in anticipation of a big turnout, race director and founder Brian Shea  announced at a reception March 29 at Bel-Air Bay Club that the cost  to register for the race will be discounted to $40 through June 18 and the price of the Kids’ Fun Run will be reduced from $25 to $20.

“Originally, we wanted to charge what it cost for the first race, but no one remembers what it was,” Shea joked.  

Representing the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation was Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, great granddaughter of famed actor Will Rogers, and she announced she will run the 10K for the first time.

Video presentations were  made by James Gibson, Chief Operating Officer for Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services and Susan Carr, Executive Director  of Experience Learning Support with Animals. An ELSA group will be invited to run and also ride in the parade.

Among the speakers were Bill Simon of the Cynthia & William E. Simon Jr. Foundation,  race committee members Charles Curtis and Jon Varat and past winners committee member David Greifinger, a lifelong  Palisadian who won the inaugural 5K race in 1986.