Remembering Ray McKelligott

Synopsis: Ray McKelligott, one of Morro Bay's long line of activists who worked long and hard--successfully--to help preserve the special qualities of the community, has died at age 85

Morro Bay's long tradition of citizen activism has been marked by strong leadership from both women and men who were fearless and forthright in not only speaking out, but engaging in action to protect Morro Bay from harmful change. This is why the small town still looks and feels much like it did a half century ago, and why residents and tourists alike cherish Morro Bay. Nothing else is quite like it.

One of those leaders was Ray McKelligott. Ray moved to Morro Bay and not only learned leadership from becoming part of that activism when it was arguably at its zenith in the 1980s, but also stepped up when it needed a shot in the arm. He co-founded Advocates for a Better Community (ABC), which became the leading community organization that tracked and weighed in on local issues broadly in the 1990s and continued in that important role up to his death on July 3 at age 85.

A funeral was held on July 10 where many of his colleagues, supporters, and admirers paid tribute to his accomplishments and his memory and expressed their condolences to Marion. Betty Winholtz, a member of the Morro Bay City Council and current candidate for mayor, presided at the ceremony. Melody DeMerritt, a former member of the Council, read a biography of McKelligott's life. Then many members of the audience described their fond memories of him.

Ray and his wife, Marion, lived in in Blue Heron Terrace Mobile Home Park at Quintana Road and South Bay Boulevard. He was co-founder of the Mobile Home Owner's Association, serving as its president for a number of years. This community group was instrumental in passage of a city initiative in 2004 limiting rent increases for mobile home owners in the city.

The McKelligotts moved to Morro Bay in 1987 from South Gate, where he had been vice president of Metropolitan Truck Body Company until he joined the Kelly Manufacturing Company, where he became plant superintendent until his retirement in 1986. He was not active in the community in South Gate, Marion said, but he more than made up for it as a Morro Bay resident and activist.

He served in the United States Navy during World War II aboard the U.S.S. Straus, a destroyer escort in the Pacific Fleet. The Straus saw action numerous times and was awarded three battle stars.

McKelligott first turned up at a meeting of the Civic Action League (CAL) unannounced one night as an observer in the back of the meeting room in the late 1980s. He soon joined and became a prominent member. In 1992, ABC was formed among many former members of CAL and the Voters Initiative Committee (VIC), which had been formed to inform residents about a plan to build a shopping center east of Highway One near where Morro Bay Boulevard intersects with the freeway. It was defeated at the polls through VIC's efforts.

When CAL disbanded and VIC evolved into a political action group, ABC emerged as the focal point of efforts to promote participation in government, encourage responsive government, support environmental awareness and sustainable resource-based growth policies, inform the public on important issues, support local candidates who reflect the principles ABC believed in and work to maintain the unique character of Morro Bay.

In one of his last efforts to protect the environment in Morro Bay, McKelligott signed on as a plaintiff in a suit filed by members of  Save the Park. The suit opposed a housing development near the mobile home park where he and Marion lived because of its anticipated impacts on sensitive habitat in Morro Bay State Park. Just two weeks before his death, he was rewarded by a court decision that blocked the proposed project.

Rat is also survived by a sister, Margaret; children Cathleen McKelligott Aldred and Ray McKelligott, Jr., step-children Jim Ayers, Ray Ayers, Marilyn Merritt and Rick Merritt, (11) grandchldren and six great-grandchildren.

Egret and Heron images on banner by Mike Baird.