It was a somber celebration.
More than 150 people bundled up for Dick Baker’s posthumous induction into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame Thursday evening.
The private, invitation-only ceremony was the first night-time induction, emcee Peter “PT” Townend said.
Many industry executives and leaders were there. In the crowd: Bob McKnight, Paul Naude, Bob Hurley, Richard Woolcott, Pat O’Neill, Fernando Aguerre, Sean Collins, Kevin Flanagan, Shaheen Sadeghi and dozens of other industry leaders.
Their presence was a tribute to Dick Baker’s power of giving – time, advice, humor, drive.
McKnight, Hurley, O’Neill and Aguerre spoke during the ceremony, and they all had a similar message: Dick Baker’s legacy will live on in their hearts.
“It’s just amazing what Dick’s still doing,” Fernando said. “Look at all you guys out there, sitting in a row. It’s the first time I’ve seen all these (CEOs) together in one place since Dick Baker died.”
HSS Owner Aaron Pai recounted how the Hall of Fame’s tiles, each with hand- or footprints and an inscription from legendary surfers, was inspired by his desire to keep surfing legacy alive.
“This is all about the future, so that when we’re all gone, kids can come here and see who came before them.”
Una, Jack and Ryan Baker wrote their messages in Dick Baker’s tile: “The Suit. Forever with us. Always in my heart. Love, Una Jack Ryan.”
Then PT and Aaron talked briefly about the re-engineering of the HSS flagship store on the corner of Main and PCH in Huntington Beach, into a curated selection and presentation of selected brands.
After a short video, everyone headed inside to see the remodel and new presentations.
Here’s a link to our story from last week, when Aaron described the changes and the business thinking behind them.
