Steve Williams of The Daily Press in Victorville, Calif., writes an editorial on the passing of Riley B. Thompson, former owner of Riley B’s and a couple other taverns on Route 66 in Victorville.
Riley B’s was probably the most famous place in San Bernardino County, known worldwide. Here’s why. It played host as the bar of choice to thousands of pilots in the United States Air Force who trained at George Air Force Base. We’ve heard, time and again, from such pilots who, after having honed their flying skills at George, were assigned to air bases all over the globe, and who, when asked by other pilots where they’d trained, would say, “George AFB,” The immediate response would be, “Remember Riley B’s?” Of course, the answer would always be, “You bet. Were you there the night…”, etc.
Riley B. Thompson was one of a rare breed, a man who left a large footprint on the valley and on his fellow man, noted for his hard-earned achievements. It turns out that, with the passage of time, fewer and fewer such people are still with us. Riley B is not the valley’s last — those who are know who they are, and if I’m still around when they depart the premises, I’ll give them equal treatment — but his tribe diminishes.
The whole thing is worth reading.