East Los Angeles' Belvedere Park Lake plays host to a range of boisterous personalities on weekend afternoons. Children scream, chasing ducks around the man-made pond and vendors call out, selling snacks and frozen treats from crowded shopping carts.
But the keeper of one of the park's greatest personal stories stays away from the loud voices and bustling activity. Seventy-five year-old Bob Price hails from East Los Angeles and spends quiet, weekday mornings strolling in the park with his newly adopted rescue dog, Rocky.
Price is retired now and lives a quiet life with his wife. Yet, a detailed account of his life-story uncovers two distinct roads that converge upon the common values of dedication and service.
War stories are best heard when told first-hand. Hear Price describe his military service in his own words, from the family chaos of travel to the spoils of mandated rest and relaxation. Watch and listen to: "Bob Price: A Life Of Service."
When you see Price walking along the shores of Belvedere Park Lake, the first thing you might notice is his bright Hawaiian shirt. However, looking more carefully, the most unique attribute of his physical appearance is the distinctive cap he always wears. Titled, "B.A.C. 4 C.A.," it stands as a symbol of Price's post military days and homage to his father's old trade.
The cap stands for Brick and Allied Crafts, Local Union No. 4, California. Price is a master stonemason and bricklayer who served nine years as the director of apprenticeship programs for all of Southern California, south of Tulare County. He also taught a private class on stone carving.
"This hat is a fond memory, because I had them made up," said a grinning Price. "We were supposed to get hats from the International [Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts] but they never sent them... so I went down to Los Angeles and had them all made up for us."
Price is very proud of his apprenticeship program. Independent from the International (as he calls it), Price's students have gone on to win awards in the highest-level competitions in the field.
"One of my stonemason apprentices went on to the finals in Washington, D.C., and he took first place," said Price. "If you don't think that upset the International--well, we're an independent local, and the International has no control over our program, although they've been trying to get ahold of it for some time now."
Price's program had over 4,000 apprentices across Southern California. His organization did work for almost every parish in Los Angeles and Orange Country during his tenure. Price has also done carvings for government buildings in Washington, D.C.
As if teaching his master craft for decades wasn't enough, the veteran and master stonemason found another calling and went back to school. On the G.I. Bill, Price studied vocational education at U.C.L.A. and later went on to serve on the L.A. Unified School District, Orange County School District and San Bernardino City Unified School District, before retiring in 2004 at the age of 65.