EL SEGUNDO HERALD January 7, 2016 Page 3 Gregg McMullin from front page “His byline first appeared in the ‘El Segundo Herald’ way back in 1993 covering local sports and the name Gregg McMullin continues to grace these pages all these years later.” Burkley & Brandlin LLP A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litiga tion 310-540-6000 Lifetime El Segundo Residents *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization Brian R. Brandlin • Bruce R. Brandlin • Christopher P. Brandlin HELP PLEASE! Nice Lady who witnessed auto accident 12/18/15 approx 6pm corner of East Maple And Sheldon, I need your help! You were possibly driving orange VW. 310-433-4562 An Alert for Residents and Businesses Please be aware of any phone call or walk-up solicitations involving the El Segundo High School Athletic Program and a promotion benefiting an El Segundo High School Athletic Program. These organizations are not affiliated in any way with El Segundo High School and are using deceitful, and unscrupulous methods to obtain your donations. Each year these groups prey on the innocence of high school sports and the donations good people make in the name of El Segundo Athletics. We encourage everyone to investigate through inquiry of what is the motive for these solicitations. The most recent is a campaign involving donations in the name of the El Segundo High School for a sport calendar. The high school does not receive any money from this scam. If you are not convinced of the integrity of the promotion, please do not give anything until you contact us. Please, if you have any questions or concerns about the validity of any sport related fundraising, contact Steve Shevlin, Athletic Director, El Segundo High School, 1-310-615-2662 x 2310, or 2312.• he received a Distinguished Service Award. But the highlight of his 30 years in police work no doubt came while deployed at a Grand Prix bike race. “It was there that I met my wife Helen while on the job,” he said. “She had just completed a run and we struck up a conversation. She pretty much had me at hello.” While a police officer, McMullin also became known as a good report writer. “I had a couple of reports that the department used as a guide on how to write up a particular crime or event,” he said. That gave him the confidence to offer his skills to the El Segundo Herald. “It was when George Brett’s career with the Kansas City Royals was winding down. I saw it as an opportunity to write about my teammate in high school and give the community a look at their hometown hero. I was there at Anaheim Stadium when he collected his 3,000th hit and I flew to Arlington, Texas to write about his last games in 1994. Then through the years, I would write extra stories on some sports or just seasonal holiday pieces.” In addition to writing, McMullin also takes pride in his photography work. No longer a novice, he recently upgraded his camera and lens. “I also got a lot of pointers from Marcy and Mike Dugan on how to shoot sports,” he said. “Over the years, I’ve gotten pretty lucky with some of my shots.” Speaking of over the years, McMullin has the perspective of someone who has lived in El Segundo long enough to remember things most in town might have forgotten about or never even knew existed. “I’ve seen both the good and maybe not so good,” he noted. “I remember Carol Shelby’s garage where part of the airport is now on Imperial and those cars flying down Imperial Highway. I remember the sound barrier being broken weekly with jets flying by and the sonic booms they made. I don’t miss the Friday at 10 a.m. air raid sounds, but I do miss the Standard Oil 4:25 whistle letting everyone know it was quitting time. I miss talking with George Renfro in his office on the corner of Main and Maple and still kick myself when he offered me the opportunity of a lifetime to own as many properties as I could handle that he was selling. Back then it was just a handshake and he would hold the paper.” McMullin also vividly recalled cutting class to be at the West Imperial terminal during the transport or Robert F. Kennedy’s body after the latter’s 1968 assassination. “I remember being close enough to touch the hearse and the limos following and putting my hand over my heart as the cars drove slowly past all of us. His wife was dressed in black and looked so sad—a face I’ll never forget.” McMullin also fondly remembered picking strawberries where there now stand a golf course and office buildings. And he and his friends would sneak across the street to hunt rabbits at the airport. “We never did get any,” he said. Looking back at the many hundreds of articles he has written, McMullin admitted it is difficult to pinpoint one in particular that stood out as the most meaningful. “I will say I have had the honor to write memorials and obituaries for my friends and my mother,” he said. “They’re all tough to write and get through and I get all emotional on each one of them. “I wrote a story on Liz Garland, the softball standout who touched so many people’s lives before she was taken from us. That really got to me and it was all I could do from breaking down after it was completed. I give a lot of credit for what I do to Heidi [Maerker, the Herald CEO/Editor-in-Chief]. She trusts me and lends her support and allows me the outlet to express my thoughts.” In addition to the privilege of memorializing those he loved, McMullin said he took special pleasure in writing about the 1963 CIF championship basketball team, El Segundo Little League 60th anniversary celebration, and Derryl Cousins’ umpiring the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 50th anniversary game at the LA Coliseum. As for the rest of the articles, he described them all as “labors of love.” He also makes it a point to include a unique word each week to get readers wondering where he found it. “My wife laughs when I get in the word ‘plethora’ in a story,” McMullin said. Indeed, it is a fine word—just one of many to be found in a plethora of good work over the past 23 years… • Seniors Live Long And Financially Strong With These 3 Tips (BPT) - By 2029, more than 76 million baby boomers will be 65 or older, according to recent Census estimates. While there is great upside to increased longevity, there are “The good news is that whether boomer or any other generation, it is rarely too late to create - or adjust - a financial planning strategy that will help you live your desired lifestyle through your lifespan.” also challenges. Inflation, climbing health care expenses and ebbing safety nets are complex dynamics to navigate through an extended retirement. One key aspect of longer lifespans many Americans overlook is caregiving. In fact, the government estimates 70 percent of adults 65 or older will require some form of longterm care (“LTC”). Recent findings from Northwestern Mutual’s 2015 C.A.R.E. (Costs, Accountabilities, Realities, Expectations) Study underscore this reality. Nearly four in 10 Americans (36 percent) are currently or have been caregivers to adults who are aging, ill or with special needs. The study further reveals caregiving, while rewarding, can have significant financial and emotional implications. The good news is that whether boomer or any other generation, it is rarely too late to create - or adjust - a financial planning strategy that will help you live your desired lifestyle through your lifespan. Rebekah Barsch, vice president, planning and sales, Northwestern Mutual, suggests the following: Face the financial realities. The Northwestern Mutual 2015 Planning & Progress Study found outliving their retirement savings is among the top financial fears for Americans. Moreover, a solid portion do not feel at all financially prepared to live through their 80s and 90s. Combined with rising costs and the potential long-term care needs, avoidance is no longer an option. Speak up. Though finances are an uncomfortable topic for many, a candid dialogue is essential to making important decisions. This is especially important when it comes to difficult topics like long-term care, which could impact the entire family. Understanding the concerns and wishes of your loved ones is the cornerstone of effective planning. Know when you need help. When it comes to financial planning, half of the boomers (age 50-68) in the 2015 Planning & Progress Study said they were either informal or non-planners. Considering the correlation between planning and financial security in retirement, as well as the added complexities of longevity, a selfdirected approach can be a risky bet when the stakes are high. An expert can take an objective look at your finances and tailor a strategy that adapts as your financial needs evolve. •
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