Jan 14, 2008

Photo tribute honors 'Champion of the California Dream'

By Adria Murray / Society Columnist

A purveyor of the California ideal, coastal living at its finest, Melvin Bell Lane helped forge the book division of Lane Publishing Co. (Sunset magazine) and was instrumental in developing hundreds of its successful titles, including "Sunset Western Garden Book," the "bible of Western horticulture."

Lane, who passed away in July, was honored and remembered at the San Mateo County History Museum on Wednesday with a photo tribute titled "Champion of the California Dream." Many of Lane's friends, relatives and former business associates were in attendance, sharing stories with each other about the man they so fondly remember.

From participating in the Adopt-A-School programs at Laurel and Encinal schools to raising funds for numerous environmental organizations and the history museum, attendee Sharon Niederhaus said, "Mel and his family have really done so much for the Peninsula."

In addition to his nearly 40 years managing Lane Publishing alongside his brother Bill, Lane also worked tirelessly to protect and preserve the California coastline. Co-founding the Peninsula Open Space Trust, a group that has preserved some 60,000 acres of natural habitat in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, Lane also served as chairman of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Committee, chairman of the Coastal Commission and was later asked by President Ronald Regan to become director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But Lane declined, choosing instead to stay out of the public eye.

Lane's wife Joan admitted that Lane wouldn't have known what to do with himself as the focal point of the exhibit. "(Mel was) not much for being the center of attention," she said, during her opening comments at the photo tribute unveiling.

Joan had people chuckling when she spoke of her husband and his friend John Clinton's History Museum capital campaign fundraising efforts, referring to the two as the "worst pair of pirates."

Clinton spoke highly of his dear friend, saying, "Mel Lane was gracious. He treated everyone with dignity and respect."

Lane's brother Bill, his business partner and closest confidant, said that Lane and he shared a special brotherhood. The two attended grade school, high school and Stanford University together. They both joined the military, lived together after World War II, worked side by side at Lane Publishing, got married at the same time and raised their kids together (many of whom work at Sunset today).

Bill was all smiles that afternoon talking about his brother with guests, and was joined by his wife Jean, their daughters Sharon and Brenda and son-in-law, San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks, in celebrating the opening of this exhibit.

The History Museum was a fitting place to host a tribute to well-known local publisher, philanthropist and environmentalist Mel Lane. "He was at home in San Mateo County," his wife Joan said.