Inland Empire Community Newspapers • January 9, 2014 • Page A5 Donnie Fair left mark on Race City, USA; worked 18 years for /

professional racers couldn't make worked at Don Edmunds' Auto Re - Danny Fair said his brother built Fair's almost immediately upon it around the track once. search in Anaheim. His ability as a 's full-size trophy their arrival in Mooresville, AKA At one time or another during his welder and innovator impressed truck that won an off road champi - Race City, USA. "They were 45 years in , Fair built racing champion Walker Evans, onship in 1996. "Soon after, they neighbors. Our children were all chassis for auto racers like Robby for whom he worked making cus - were both contracted by Felix the same age. We all went to Gordon, Al Unser, and Juan Pablo tom shocks. Fair then fitted sus - Sabates. Being part of Gordon's Mooresville First Presbyterian Montoya. Fair progressed from pension systems for Ivan Stewart's team was a good time in my Church," said Sledge, the church's washing cars as a pre-teen at his off road trucks at Precision brother's life. Within two years music director. Donnie was a father's Gulf Gas Station on High - Performance. Donnie became the head fabricator elder, a deacon and past president land Avenue in San Bernardino Another brother, Richard Fair for Sabates and had 15 employees of the men's bible class. "Don into the position of head fabricator said Donnie got another big break working under him. Felix liked came back here initially as part of for the Chip Ganassi with Felix when he went to work for Frank Donnie a lot." Danny Fair said de - Robby Gordon's first race team. Sabates NASCAR auto racing Vessels, the owner of Los Alami - spite moving up NASCAR's food He was always a respected mem - team in . "Donnie tos Horse Racing track. Donnie chain, off road racing remained ber of our community," said moved back there in 1996 with was hired to construct stalls at the special to him. Sledge. Robby Gordon who just signed Vessels Stallion Ranch in Bonsall. "I have known Donnie for nearly Donnie Lee Fair, 59, died in his with Felix Sabates," said his Vessels was a former off road rac - 20 years. Donnie was a race car sleep at home on Dec. 28. He met brother, Danny Fair. ing champ and had considerable guy from the moment he was born his wife, the former Jerilyn Atkins PHOTO COURTESYEZ Donnie Fair had early success influence with NASCAR. At the especially off road, but I can tell when they were both students at as a driver, beginning as a four- same time Donnie worked for pop you he became one of the finest Cajon High. They have daughters; Donnie Fair was an important year-old when he won the quarter musician Michael Nesmith's off welders in the NASCAR garage," Meredith and Morgan; son, Dono - figure for Ganassi/Sabates midget nationals against kids twice road race team. said Felix Sabates. "He was truly van and grandson Eli. Racing for 18 years. his age. As a teen, he won a few "Donnie and his wife Jerilyn and amazing at what he did. But the Along with Danny, his oldest sprint car races. By the time he their three children moved back to talent and leadership that Donnie brother David and late father, was 18, he realized his niche Mooresville, North Carolina in showed in our team's fabrication Joseph were instrumental in his ca - By Harvey M. Kahn would come from behind the 1996 to work for Ganassi with shop paled in comparison to the reer. His sister, Elaine of Riverside scenes. Those in the industry took Felix Sabates," said Richard Fair. type of person that he was. Donnie joined David and Danny at their onnie Fair was never a notice of his work ethic and will - "He toured the NASCAR circuit was truly one of the good guys. He brother's memorial service on Jan. household name in the ingness to help others in the pit. and assisted the crew for had a heart of gold that he put to 4th in Mooresville. His mother, business of professional After graduating from Cajon Ganassi/Sabates. Donnie was an great use with his family, his Eleanor, lives in the San auto racing. It was never his inten - High in 1971, he took a job pulling excellent helio-arc welder and friends, and his church. Donnie Bernardino family home of 57 tiDon. But without Fair's work as a parts and changing tires for came up with many creative de - will be sorely missed by all of us." years. fabricating genius, some of the top Leonard Faas Racing. He later signs." Alan Sledge got to know the Rev. Dennis Morgan Brown to San Bernardino County present, “The Voice of King”, Board of Education at numerous school sites accepting applications to fill vacancy ev. Dennis Morgan Brown, Founder of IM he San Bernardino County cial board meeting scheduled on INC, Inter-Prevention Board of Education voted Jan. 23. The appointed applicant Meaningfully Intercepting The at its regularly scheduled will serve out the remainder of NRegatives Toward Children and meeting to accept applications to Navarro’s term, which is up for Prolific sought after, Orator, of the fiTll the seat vacated by member Gil election in November 2014. Late Great Dr. Martin Luther Navarro. He was removed from his To be eligible for the appointment King, Jr., will bring his program, position by court order due to in - to Navarro’s seat, applicants must “The Voice of King”, to numerous compatibility of offices after he be a registered voter residing school sites, and libraries with a was elected to another position. within Trustee Area D. Interested stop at a military installation on Navarro had served on the board applicants may obtain an applica - January 8th, Fort Irwin, CA, since 2006.. tion from the County Superintend - January 10th , Val Verde H.S. The vacant seat represents Trustee ent of School’s office, located at January 12th , Rev. Brown will Area D, which includes the districts 601 N. E St., or on its website at present at his church, Miracle De - of Rialto Unified, San Bernardino http://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/BoE/in liverance, 3358 N. “E” Street, San City Unified and Snowline Joint dex_BoE.php. Bernardino. Unified. The deadline for application ma - January 13th , Kucera M. S., Ri - The remaining four members of terials is by 4 p.m. on Jan. 16. alto. the county board will interview For additional information, con - January 14th , San Gorgonio qualified applicants and make a tact Crystal Lopez, secretary to the H.S., San Bernardino. provisional appointment at a spe - county board, at (909) 386-2414. January 15th , Ontario H. S., Chaffey School District. January 16th , Alta Loma H. S., Chaffey School District, also Fontana Library January 16th. January 17th , Grand Terrance Vista Cove Elementary, Colton. January 19th , Care Center African American Museum, Los Angeles, January 20th , Moreno Valley at Rialto Parade March, concluding at Moreno Valley H.S., Moreno Val - ley. Quality Skilled Nursing January 21st, Victor Valley H.S., Victorville. and Rehabilitation January 24th, Woodrow Wilson Elementary, Colton. (909) 877-1361 January 30th, Martin Luther King H. S., Riverside. 1471 South Riverside Ave. Rialto, Ca. 92376 January 31st, Mary Mcleod- Bethune Elementary, Val Verde School District. Please observe the upcoming February dates For Black History Month. For more information or speaking requests, please call, (909) 496-5112.