commentary
George Schmok
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
gschmok@landscapeonline.com
Stephen Kelly
Editor
skelly@landscapeonline.com
Michelle Medaris
Education
mmedaris@landscapeonline.com
"Sully" — Stamped Into Our History
It's amazing how time just keeps marching on. In
publishing it is even weirder, as I am writing this three
weeks before the upcoming LA Expo in Long Beach,
and you won't be reading this until at least two weeks
after that.
Next month I'll be able to tell you how great the
Expo was, with the LAF Charity Reception, the
CLASS Fund Senior Student Showcase, the Belgard
Hardscape Design Center, Pacific Outdoor's Outdoor
Living Design Center, the New California Plant Palette
Design Center sponsored by Green Meadow Growers
and Mountain State Wholesale Nursery, plus the 32
seminars and the sold out exhibit hall . . .
But now I'd like to talk about the new entrance to the
Expo and the pioneer who actually built its main feature.
We have been putting on trade shows in Long Beach
for several years
now, and as it turns
out we have always
been using the back
door for the event.
Not that that was
horrible, as that
entrance did take
you by the 1,280
ft. long by 105 ft.
tall "Planet Ocean"
(grey whales, orcas,
sharks, etc.) mural by Robert Wyland.
The Front Entrance, however, features the work of
Francis "Sully" Sullivan (April 2, 1920 – Jan. 1, 2013)
of Sullivan Concrete Textures. I remember Sully telling
me all about the concrete wave pattern mimicking the
waves of the Pacific Ocean. He was so proud of that
project (above).
Sully was one of the first people I met in this
profession, and I have to tell you, you probably wouldn't
be reading this if not for him.
I was young, dumb, oblivious and on my honeymoon
in 1988 (unfortunately I am no longer young nor on my
honeymoon :@), when back at the magazine the printer
called Marty Smith (one of my best friends and partner
. . . still one of my best friends) to let him know the
magazine would not be printed until the bill was paid!?!
Marty knew exactly what to do with me not around. He
called one of the nicest, most generous, thoughtful,
knowledgeable, fun and — What's the word you would
use to describe someone who truly cared about their
chosen profession so much that they revolutionized it,
and pushed it to unheard of levels, yet always had his
hand reaching back to lift up those trying keep up?
Maybe that word should just be "Sully".
Anyways . . . on July 5th I got a call at 5:00 a.m.
while on my honeymoon at the Sheraton in Waikiki.
That's 5:00 a.m. Hawaiian time, on my honeymoon,
the day after the 4th of July when Marty called me to
say that Sully had just saved our . . . magazine . . .
Ok . . . Suffice it to say, Sully not only had an impact
on my life (in a huge way!!!!) but his impact carries
forward to you . . . Not just through this magazine, but
through countless projects, his absolute 'impression' on
the textured concrete industry, and countless people
who have stories similar to mine . . .
One of the greatest joys in my life were the lunches
with Sully. I can't tell you how much I learned, not just
about the profession, but about how to move forward
with dedication, conviction and grace . . . Sully called
me out . . . a few times, but never with anger, nor malice.
Unfortunately, Sully passed away on January 1st
and, although I thought about it often, I hadn't
seen nor talked to him for at least a couple
of years . . .
Don't let that happen to you . . . While Sully was a
9th generation Californian I'm sure his kindred spirit
lives in more places than our back yard. As we move
toward the future . . . And we are all moving toward the
future. Please remember those who have forged the way
. . . Those who have BUILT the road . . . History isn't
about hours, days, weeks, or even years . . .
History is about those who have seen the future and
moved ahead, not to pursue the future, but to make it.
Sully . . . Francis W. Sullivan was that guy. When
you think of this profession, wherever you are . . .
Names like Burt and Stuart Sperber, Courtland Paul,
Don Roberts, Kay Tiller, Frank Manwarren, Raymond
Page and Francis W. Sullivan should make you think,
"Where would I be without these pioneers?" Then, your
next question should be . . . What am I going to do to
keep it moving forward?
Thanks Sully . . . friend . . . mentor . . . brother . . .
Larry Shield
Product Editor
lshield@landscapeonline.com
Amy Deane
Editorial Administrative Assistant
adeane@landscapeonline.com
Associate Editors
Ashley Calabria
Associate Editor/Digital Information
University of Georgia
calabria@uga.edu
Buck Abbey, ASLA
Associate Editor Legislation
Louisiana State University
aainc@abbey-associates.com
Russ Adsit, FASLA
Associate Editor/Erosion
Executive Director, IECA
russ@ieca.org
Janet Lennox Moyer, IALD
Associate Editor/Lighting
moyerj@rpi.edu
(In Memoriam)
Don Roberts, FASLA
Kay Tiller
Frank Manwarren
Lois E. Schmok
David Brian Linstrum
(Oct. 29, 1935 - May 12, 2011)
LASN Associate Editor-at-Large
Art Director
Nicole Miller
nmiller@landscapeonline.com
Graphic Designer
Matthew Medeiros
mmedeiros@landscapeonline.com
Ad Coordinator
Oliver Calonzo
ocalonzo@landscapeonline.com
Circulation / Fulfillment Manager
Jacqui Argyle
jargyle@landscapeonline.com
Circulation / Fulfillment
Grace Stewart
gstewart@landscapeonline.com
Joanne Slaughter
jslaughter@landscapeonline.com
IT Department
Web / Tech Manager
Jerry Short
jshort@landscapeonline.com
Web / Tech Assistant
Mayra Gutierrez
mgutierrez@landscapeonline.com
Chief Operations Officer C.O.O.
Mark O'Halloran
mohalloran@landscapeonline.com
Sales Administration
Cynthia McCarthy
cmccarthy@landscapeonline.com
Marcia Owyang
mowyang@landscapeonline.com
Advertising/Marketing
714-979-LASN (5276) x113 • 714-979-3543 (Fax)
God Bless . . .
George Schmok, Publisher
Find Sully's biography at www.landscapeonline.com/
research/article/17268.
Romans 12:2 …"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will."
12 Landscape Architect and Specifier News
Kyle Cavaness
Economic News
kcavaness@landscapeonline.com
Advertising Sales
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Booth / Banner Sales
Vladimir Kostich
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