To the Moon and Back: Santa Monica History Museum Annual Gala Tribute Dinner

The Santa Monica History Museum will host its annual Gala Tribute Dinner at
the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows on Sunday, September 22nd at 5:00pm.
Guests will be able to participate in a silent and live auction, as well as enjoy dinner and cocktails. We
are excited to have two remarkable honorees this year! With this year’s theme, “To the Moon and
Back,” we will celebrate and honor Professor Hildreth (Hal) Walker, Jr. Mr. Walker led the
manufacturing, testing and operation of the KORAD K-1500 ruby laser system in his Santa Monica lab in
1969 during the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. The ruby laser measured the distance from the moon and
back and has been replicated in the Smithsonian.
We are also proud to honor Santa Monica College on its 90th Anniversary. Founded in 1929, SMC enrolls over 30,000 students. Under Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery’s leadership, SMC leads the nation in transferring
students to the prestigious University of California system.
Santa Monica College will receive the Louise B. Gabriel Award. The Louise B. Gabriel Award is
presented to an individual or organization that has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to,
and passion for, preserving the history of Santa Monica.
The annual Gala is the biggest fundraiser for the Santa Monica History Museum. We are proud to
announce OneWest Bank as our title sponsor this year.
We invite our community businesses and friends of the Museum to participate in pledging your
sponsorship to promote “Keeping Our History Alive.”
Dinner tickets are $180 per person and available for purchase online or by calling the museum. For
sponsorship or donation information, please contact John Klopping, (310)395-2290, jklopping@santamonicahistory.org