The first annual ball of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Association was held on August 25, 1951 at the Bay Meadows Clubhouse in San Mateo.
Deputy Sheriff Gene Stewart traveled to Hollywood with a special invitation for Hollywood starlet, Debbie Reynolds. Reynolds was starring in M-G-M’s production of, “Singing in the Rain.” Film obligations prevented her from accepting Deputy Stewart’s invitation to make a personal appearance at the ball – but the petite actress, who would later star in blockbusters; “How the West was Won” and “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,”did take time off from her studio duties to express her sincere wishes for the success of the first annual ball.
Reynolds was gracious enough to pose with Deputy Stewart and a poster which advertised the Sheriff’s dance. all the proceeds were donated to the widows and orphans fund.
Meanwhile, Louis B. Mayer, the famous and powerful executive of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, received other emissaries of the Sheriff’s Office and he dug into his pocket and bought a number of tickets to the ball.
This was the first annual ball staged by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Association, which was recently organized. The affair is the means by which the sheriff’s deputies widows’ and orphans’ fund will be funded.
Ray Hackett’s famous CBS orchestra furnished the music in the beautiful Bay Meadows Clubhouse.
Sheriff Earl B. Whitmore urged the public to attend the affair.
(Source: Enterprise Journal – August 23, 1951)