Carter, Robert G., 1997 Leon S. Peters Distinguished Service Award recipient
Item
Title
Carter, Robert G., 1997 Leon S. Peters Distinguished Service Award recipient
Description
Talks about being born in Michigan and growing up in Southern California, attending UCLA, joining the army, attending law school and working for the US attorney's office before relocating to Fresno. He talks about practicing law in Fresno with Clark Savoy and how small Fresno was in the 1950's. He discusses his community involvement including the Fresno Business Council, Chamber of Commerce and giving back and receiving the Leon S. Peters Distinguished Service Award.
Creator
Carter, Robert G.
Mehas, Dr. Peter G.
Relation
Leon S. Peters Legacy Collection
Coverage
Fresno, California
Date
2000
Format
Microsoft word 2003 document, 5 pages
Identifier
SCMS_lspl_00017
extracted text
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay, for the record name, place of birth and date of birth.
>>Robert Carter: Robert Carter, better known as Bob Carter, sometimes just as
Carter. Date of birth, October 1st, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: I knew there was a sense of brilliance about you. October 1st?
Someone else is born October 1st but 1939. I didn't realize that.
>>Robert Carter: They're a little behind me.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, a little behind. When did you come to Fresno? Where were
you raised? Where were you brought up?
>>Robert Carter: Southern California. Southern California. I went to school in
Southern California. Went in the service out of Southern California. Came back from
the service, went to UCLA for 7 years, undergraduate and graduate -- or graduate in
the sense to law school. Practiced in the federal court as a clerk for the federal
court for a year to whomever but Jim Carter - a great federal judge - I looked more
like him than I did my dad. Then I went in the United States Attorney's Office and
worked the United States Attorney's Office for a year. I had the occasion to come to
Fresno and I didn't like the atmosphere in Los Angeles. The anonymity, the fact that
it was hard to even find you know really relationships. It was becoming crowded and
rather impersonal. I liked Fresno when I came here in August mind you I came.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And you liked it?
>>Robert Carter: And I thought, I cannot believe it. It's a small town but it's a
big town. It's a big community. It has access to the beautiful Sierra. It has access
to tremendous farmland and opportunities and the people were fantastic. And I says - went home and said "Honey, we're moving to Fresno." Because on the side I had
talked to the District Attorney like Clarke Savory in those days and said, "I would
like to go to work with you." And he says, "You're on." And I think he said "I'll
pay you 400 dollars a month" or whatever it was. I says, "I can get 465 in LA." And
he says, "Stay in LA then."
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: [Laughter]
>>Robert Carter: I came up and worked for Clarke Savory.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What year was this? And what was Fresno like when you came as
a -- into town?
>>Robert Carter: Anything north of Clinton, maybe Dakota was country. And that's
what sold my wife when we came here and then she went out and within 5 minutes she
was with the kids out in a canal catching frogs or something and shooting a ->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What year?
>>Robert Carter: 1957. February of '57. And been here every since.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: The Leon Peters Award stands for more than just excellence in
business. It stands for contribution to the community. And clearly your signature
has been -- your unselfish leadership that you've provided this community through
many, many entities. What motivated you beyond your professional success to be so
involved in the community?
>>Robert Carter: Well, really two things I think. And I'm not sure you know what the
two things are. But two things. One was the community was very good to me as a
practicing attorney. I'd been in the D.A.'s Office I had mentioned and also in the
senior partner in the Wild, Carter, Tipton law firm since 1960 and they'd been very
generous to me. I had great opportunities in the community and I'd made a good
living from the community. And you say, "You know what?" I think Einstein said it
for one that, "We all should leave, put back into the community, put back into
society at least as much if not more than what we took out." And I think that's the
motivation. And this community at least when I got most active was probably back 10,
12 years ago because I felt that the community is kind of moving off track a little.
And that maybe some of we people who have been here quite awhile, we should devote
as much time as possible to bring this community back to where it really should be
and ought to be and was, at least as I saw it when I came in here in '57.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tom Brokaw wrote a book recently called The Greatest
Generation. And without labeling you, you are a member of that greatest generation.
It was your generation that went through the Depression. It was your generation that
fought the big war. It was your generation.
>>Robert Carter: I didn't fight the big war. I wanted to go to the Marine Corp but I
did go into that in '45, yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: But your generation. I'm speaking generically. It was your
generation that put the man on the moon. What was it about the upbringing of your
generation that prompted Brokaw to say, "It is the greatest generation?"
>>Robert Carter: Maybe the Depression but maybe it's the parents. Maybe it was the
attitude that you owed something to the society and that making money wasn't the -shouldn't be the primary objective. When I went into the practice of law, my father
was an attorney. And it was always that this is a profession and a profession is not
just -- it means you're real good. A profession means that it's a calling in which
your goal, your objective is service to the community and to mankind and not for
making the dollars. And unfortunately I think that -- that gives you a sense and
makes you know or realize that there's something more out there than just money.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: One of your visions was that of the business -- Fresno
Business Council. You were the first president. You were one of the creators -- the
creator -- of the Business Council. In its short existence, it has proved to be a
very influential force in shaping our community. What prompted that vision and why
did you want to push that agenda?
>>Robert Carter: When I went on as the President of Chamber, our objective and I was
fortunate working with Stebbins Dean, was to bring back a relationship between the
Chamber in particular, but really the business community and the local government.
And that there hadn't been any dialog and really resolution -- problem resolving
between the 2 sides. When I finished my term as President in the Chamber, it still - there was a gap at least as I saw it. And I was fortunate, I was touted to go to
Colorado and talk to a gentleman by the name of Kaplan [assumed spelling] there who
had been involved in pulling government and business together. I felt that we have
not only some of the finest people, some of the finest people in my opinion in the
country right here in Fresno, but we have and even as exemplified in the businesses
in that the business people are just absolutely superb people as well as being
superb business men and women. And that where we were lacking we were no longer
working directly with the government as a partnership and having the dialog to
accomplish things. We were to a great extent I thought we were kind of sitting back
and complaining. Not only in Fresno. I think this was going on all over the country.
And you know, we could really change this place if we could get these quality people
to come in and sit down and know that they can make a difference. I got touted down
at almost identically at the same time on the Cleveland experience and a couple
other places and checked on that. It was right down the line. I then called a dozen
I guess it was of men and women that I knew in the community that are business
people. And they were shocked. They said I don’t know what you're talking about. And
I was saying, "Hey, we ought to get into this organization. It costs you 5 thousand
dollars just to be on the board." And they says, "What's that for?" And I remember
telling them specifically, "You know, you've got to put your money where your mouth
is. And I think the business people in this community have an opportunity and that
they will." And sure enough they did and boom it just took off and I'm very pleased
with what they, we've done.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: The focus was interesting on what the emphasis -- instead of
trying to be all things to all people, as I recall there was some very specific
things that the business council was going to focus on. How was that agenda picked?
Was it picked collaboratively or did a few people sit down and say, "Those are the
needs of the community. That's what we need to focus on."
>>Robert Carter: Well, when we had -- when we had our first retreat so to speak up
at Fish Camp, we laid the agenda out and basically -- I think we were basically all
agreed. We had the safety problem of course. We had the education problem. We had
the job situation. And we had the political situation had to be resolved in there.
And maybe one other but -- so that went on the agenda and nobody -- well everybody
agreed a hundred percent. But to say except on the political agenda, a lot of the
business people there even were kind of what’s this because they hadn't been
involved in the political arena. And that took about probably about a year before
they realized the impact that they could make on -- in the community if they started
being actively involved in the political system by working with councilmen and
working with supervisors and people to try to solve problems rather than just
complain because they didn't like the officials that were in office.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You were very instrumental in getting the endorsement and
support of the Business Council for the Commission on the Future of Education in
Fresno County. And community leaders devoted 2 years of their lives to looking at
education in Fresno County. And I can recall you from the get-go, you were at the
meetings and what did you want that group to accomplish when it was created?
>>Robert Carter: Well we accomplished it and of course were seeking to accomplish it
in conjunction with Mr. Mehas, yourself. And the objective was that we need not call
or shouldn't call it that, but little Hoover Commission on education, that everybody
was concerned about the track of the direction that education was moving. And that
we felt that you know we can go ahead and try to analyze this, bring in the experts
from both sides from all over the country. In fact, I think we brought them -- some
outside of the United States.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yes.
>>Robert Carter: And to then come in with some recommendations and the objective was
both by yourself and I know the business council that I was representing, that this
thing wouldn't sit on the shelf.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right.
>>Robert Carter: And that these critiques would be totally biased, objective and
that the Business Council would be the ones that help - which is the business
community - to see that it is accomplished. And I hope that what’s going to occur.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, it's interesting that a lot of the reforms at the state
level that the commission was a catalyst in for a lot of the legislation that we can
directly track to the work of the commission. And that's not self-ingratiation. That
literally did happen. You knew Leon. You knew Lee Peters as he was affectionately
known, very, very well. Lee was considered one of the philanthropists, one of the
successful business leaders and one of the true pillars of the community. What did
it mean to Bob Carter to be recognized as a Leon Peters recipient, along with Lew
Eatons, and the Bob Duncans, a very, very dynamic group in our community? What did
it mean to you as a man?
>>Robert Carter: Well, very humbling. I mean a great recognition. I mean Leon S.
Peters and the leaders that have been chosen before, I looked up to -- the Bob
Duncans, the Lew Eatons, these people that had been the pillars of this community,
have been the leadership of this community for many, many years. And to be put in
and considered part of that group is just -- I don't know what to say. It's just so
humbling and gratifying and makes you feel so good and yet so humble.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: At the, I remember distinctly at the awards ceremony, your
love of your family. It was apparent even when I heard you talk about Mrs. Purdy at
the teacher's awards ceremony. For a crusty old lawyer, you've got a pretty soft
heart when it comes to family and friends.
>>Robert Carter: Yeah, you're probably right. That's why I'm in the new business.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tell us about your new business. This is another vision:
something that's not part of the status quo, this conflict resolution. What prompted
you going out in that direction?
>>Robert Carter: Well as the years progressed in the practice of law, I found that
things were changing. And it isn't a criticize of attorneys. A lot of it candidly is
our whole processes in society become more and more and more complex that we have a
tendency with -- we as citizens a tendency with our government officials, whenever
we have something we perceive as a problem, we want a new law. And when I went to
law school, I remember when Dean Pound said, "We ought to go back to the 10
Commandments." Well in the last 40 some years I've practiced law, they've passed on
the average of 1500 laws a year just in California alone. And this constant passing
of laws and the constant regulations that come up, makes it almost impossible to
solve a problem. And then I felt it also it had become more focused maybe on winning
and focused on the financial end of it. And there had to be a better way. And I'd
always planned even in the cases I had, I always recognized it wasn't really black
hats and white hats. It's really a lot of gray hats but that if you told that to a
client, years ago at least, as a combative society that we've seemed to -- or
culturally seemed to develop, they'd fire you. But all of a sudden the free
enterprise system does work but now it has gotten so costly that these people may
come to their senses and realize that we as adults, we as human beings should go
ahead and resolve our problems. So I started the mediation, took it, was absolutely
flabbergasted with the dynamics of it. I even could solve problems at home just
almost in an instant just by listening and to not react but to respond when your
wife may have a problem which is more even satisfying than that part which has been
difficult to get moving: to some extent, the mediation process. It is this peer
mediation that we're now working with through the county schools, Fresno State and
that alliance we have. And that came up where my daughter says, "You know, this is
so dynamic and it works so beautifully. Why didn't we learn these as little kids so
that we could solve problems and avoid conflict and have a real closer relationship
with one and the other?" And so we're now doing that and it just is very, very
fulfilling. It's as fulfilling as winning one in court when you know the other guy’s
a bad guy. [Laughter]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Two last questions counselor. Looking at the past in Fresno
and looking at the present, looking at the future, where do you see Fresno going?
Fresno seems that it's sort of at a crossroads now. In this great Central Valley,
you've seen politicians on our city council and mayor. And we're about to be
involved in a very, very I believe expensive and contentious mayoral race that will
have a lot to do with the future of Fresno. From your advantage point, where do you
see Fresno going?
>>Robert Carter: I have great expectations for Fresno. I tell people you know when
the one thing that is so common of anybody that I've ever have whose come in here as
a guest, as a visitor, is they're so overwhelmed with the pleasantness, the attitude
of the people. I think that Fresno, we have this one great advantage even though
we've grown greatly and we have a real rural attitude. We're really in a sense like
a lot of real farm boys so to speak. And that permeates across the board from the
bottom to the top, from the religions, cultures, everything that these people have a
great, great sense of values. The business community has taken such an active role
with no gain to them really that I don't have any question that we're going to be
going places and very, very soon. We're changing the picture of the politics. Sure,
we may not have everybody we wish, but we're getting more and more people of great
caliber, real statesmen that are beginning to say, "Maybe I should go ahead and take
on my responsibility and work." So I think there's -- the future of Fresno is just
unbelievable, fantastic.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Last question: Knute Rockne once said, "When the great
scorekeeper records the score of the game, it matters not who wins or loses but how
the game is played." How does Bob Carter want the score recorded about the life of
Bob Carter?
>>Robert Carter: Same way. It's the way the game was played. Thank you.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, thank you. Bob not only on behalf of the Chamber of
Commerce who of course sponsors and supports the Leon S. Peters Award, but I value
greatly your contribution to our community and your friendship as well. So
congratulations and what an honor it is to have you on this video.
>>Robert Carter: Thank you.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Thank you.
==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====
>>Robert Carter: Robert Carter, better known as Bob Carter, sometimes just as
Carter. Date of birth, October 1st, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: I knew there was a sense of brilliance about you. October 1st?
Someone else is born October 1st but 1939. I didn't realize that.
>>Robert Carter: They're a little behind me.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, a little behind. When did you come to Fresno? Where were
you raised? Where were you brought up?
>>Robert Carter: Southern California. Southern California. I went to school in
Southern California. Went in the service out of Southern California. Came back from
the service, went to UCLA for 7 years, undergraduate and graduate -- or graduate in
the sense to law school. Practiced in the federal court as a clerk for the federal
court for a year to whomever but Jim Carter - a great federal judge - I looked more
like him than I did my dad. Then I went in the United States Attorney's Office and
worked the United States Attorney's Office for a year. I had the occasion to come to
Fresno and I didn't like the atmosphere in Los Angeles. The anonymity, the fact that
it was hard to even find you know really relationships. It was becoming crowded and
rather impersonal. I liked Fresno when I came here in August mind you I came.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And you liked it?
>>Robert Carter: And I thought, I cannot believe it. It's a small town but it's a
big town. It's a big community. It has access to the beautiful Sierra. It has access
to tremendous farmland and opportunities and the people were fantastic. And I says - went home and said "Honey, we're moving to Fresno." Because on the side I had
talked to the District Attorney like Clarke Savory in those days and said, "I would
like to go to work with you." And he says, "You're on." And I think he said "I'll
pay you 400 dollars a month" or whatever it was. I says, "I can get 465 in LA." And
he says, "Stay in LA then."
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: [Laughter]
>>Robert Carter: I came up and worked for Clarke Savory.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What year was this? And what was Fresno like when you came as
a -- into town?
>>Robert Carter: Anything north of Clinton, maybe Dakota was country. And that's
what sold my wife when we came here and then she went out and within 5 minutes she
was with the kids out in a canal catching frogs or something and shooting a ->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What year?
>>Robert Carter: 1957. February of '57. And been here every since.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: The Leon Peters Award stands for more than just excellence in
business. It stands for contribution to the community. And clearly your signature
has been -- your unselfish leadership that you've provided this community through
many, many entities. What motivated you beyond your professional success to be so
involved in the community?
>>Robert Carter: Well, really two things I think. And I'm not sure you know what the
two things are. But two things. One was the community was very good to me as a
practicing attorney. I'd been in the D.A.'s Office I had mentioned and also in the
senior partner in the Wild, Carter, Tipton law firm since 1960 and they'd been very
generous to me. I had great opportunities in the community and I'd made a good
living from the community. And you say, "You know what?" I think Einstein said it
for one that, "We all should leave, put back into the community, put back into
society at least as much if not more than what we took out." And I think that's the
motivation. And this community at least when I got most active was probably back 10,
12 years ago because I felt that the community is kind of moving off track a little.
And that maybe some of we people who have been here quite awhile, we should devote
as much time as possible to bring this community back to where it really should be
and ought to be and was, at least as I saw it when I came in here in '57.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tom Brokaw wrote a book recently called The Greatest
Generation. And without labeling you, you are a member of that greatest generation.
It was your generation that went through the Depression. It was your generation that
fought the big war. It was your generation.
>>Robert Carter: I didn't fight the big war. I wanted to go to the Marine Corp but I
did go into that in '45, yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: But your generation. I'm speaking generically. It was your
generation that put the man on the moon. What was it about the upbringing of your
generation that prompted Brokaw to say, "It is the greatest generation?"
>>Robert Carter: Maybe the Depression but maybe it's the parents. Maybe it was the
attitude that you owed something to the society and that making money wasn't the -shouldn't be the primary objective. When I went into the practice of law, my father
was an attorney. And it was always that this is a profession and a profession is not
just -- it means you're real good. A profession means that it's a calling in which
your goal, your objective is service to the community and to mankind and not for
making the dollars. And unfortunately I think that -- that gives you a sense and
makes you know or realize that there's something more out there than just money.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: One of your visions was that of the business -- Fresno
Business Council. You were the first president. You were one of the creators -- the
creator -- of the Business Council. In its short existence, it has proved to be a
very influential force in shaping our community. What prompted that vision and why
did you want to push that agenda?
>>Robert Carter: When I went on as the President of Chamber, our objective and I was
fortunate working with Stebbins Dean, was to bring back a relationship between the
Chamber in particular, but really the business community and the local government.
And that there hadn't been any dialog and really resolution -- problem resolving
between the 2 sides. When I finished my term as President in the Chamber, it still - there was a gap at least as I saw it. And I was fortunate, I was touted to go to
Colorado and talk to a gentleman by the name of Kaplan [assumed spelling] there who
had been involved in pulling government and business together. I felt that we have
not only some of the finest people, some of the finest people in my opinion in the
country right here in Fresno, but we have and even as exemplified in the businesses
in that the business people are just absolutely superb people as well as being
superb business men and women. And that where we were lacking we were no longer
working directly with the government as a partnership and having the dialog to
accomplish things. We were to a great extent I thought we were kind of sitting back
and complaining. Not only in Fresno. I think this was going on all over the country.
And you know, we could really change this place if we could get these quality people
to come in and sit down and know that they can make a difference. I got touted down
at almost identically at the same time on the Cleveland experience and a couple
other places and checked on that. It was right down the line. I then called a dozen
I guess it was of men and women that I knew in the community that are business
people. And they were shocked. They said I don’t know what you're talking about. And
I was saying, "Hey, we ought to get into this organization. It costs you 5 thousand
dollars just to be on the board." And they says, "What's that for?" And I remember
telling them specifically, "You know, you've got to put your money where your mouth
is. And I think the business people in this community have an opportunity and that
they will." And sure enough they did and boom it just took off and I'm very pleased
with what they, we've done.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: The focus was interesting on what the emphasis -- instead of
trying to be all things to all people, as I recall there was some very specific
things that the business council was going to focus on. How was that agenda picked?
Was it picked collaboratively or did a few people sit down and say, "Those are the
needs of the community. That's what we need to focus on."
>>Robert Carter: Well, when we had -- when we had our first retreat so to speak up
at Fish Camp, we laid the agenda out and basically -- I think we were basically all
agreed. We had the safety problem of course. We had the education problem. We had
the job situation. And we had the political situation had to be resolved in there.
And maybe one other but -- so that went on the agenda and nobody -- well everybody
agreed a hundred percent. But to say except on the political agenda, a lot of the
business people there even were kind of what’s this because they hadn't been
involved in the political arena. And that took about probably about a year before
they realized the impact that they could make on -- in the community if they started
being actively involved in the political system by working with councilmen and
working with supervisors and people to try to solve problems rather than just
complain because they didn't like the officials that were in office.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You were very instrumental in getting the endorsement and
support of the Business Council for the Commission on the Future of Education in
Fresno County. And community leaders devoted 2 years of their lives to looking at
education in Fresno County. And I can recall you from the get-go, you were at the
meetings and what did you want that group to accomplish when it was created?
>>Robert Carter: Well we accomplished it and of course were seeking to accomplish it
in conjunction with Mr. Mehas, yourself. And the objective was that we need not call
or shouldn't call it that, but little Hoover Commission on education, that everybody
was concerned about the track of the direction that education was moving. And that
we felt that you know we can go ahead and try to analyze this, bring in the experts
from both sides from all over the country. In fact, I think we brought them -- some
outside of the United States.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yes.
>>Robert Carter: And to then come in with some recommendations and the objective was
both by yourself and I know the business council that I was representing, that this
thing wouldn't sit on the shelf.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right.
>>Robert Carter: And that these critiques would be totally biased, objective and
that the Business Council would be the ones that help - which is the business
community - to see that it is accomplished. And I hope that what’s going to occur.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, it's interesting that a lot of the reforms at the state
level that the commission was a catalyst in for a lot of the legislation that we can
directly track to the work of the commission. And that's not self-ingratiation. That
literally did happen. You knew Leon. You knew Lee Peters as he was affectionately
known, very, very well. Lee was considered one of the philanthropists, one of the
successful business leaders and one of the true pillars of the community. What did
it mean to Bob Carter to be recognized as a Leon Peters recipient, along with Lew
Eatons, and the Bob Duncans, a very, very dynamic group in our community? What did
it mean to you as a man?
>>Robert Carter: Well, very humbling. I mean a great recognition. I mean Leon S.
Peters and the leaders that have been chosen before, I looked up to -- the Bob
Duncans, the Lew Eatons, these people that had been the pillars of this community,
have been the leadership of this community for many, many years. And to be put in
and considered part of that group is just -- I don't know what to say. It's just so
humbling and gratifying and makes you feel so good and yet so humble.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: At the, I remember distinctly at the awards ceremony, your
love of your family. It was apparent even when I heard you talk about Mrs. Purdy at
the teacher's awards ceremony. For a crusty old lawyer, you've got a pretty soft
heart when it comes to family and friends.
>>Robert Carter: Yeah, you're probably right. That's why I'm in the new business.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tell us about your new business. This is another vision:
something that's not part of the status quo, this conflict resolution. What prompted
you going out in that direction?
>>Robert Carter: Well as the years progressed in the practice of law, I found that
things were changing. And it isn't a criticize of attorneys. A lot of it candidly is
our whole processes in society become more and more and more complex that we have a
tendency with -- we as citizens a tendency with our government officials, whenever
we have something we perceive as a problem, we want a new law. And when I went to
law school, I remember when Dean Pound said, "We ought to go back to the 10
Commandments." Well in the last 40 some years I've practiced law, they've passed on
the average of 1500 laws a year just in California alone. And this constant passing
of laws and the constant regulations that come up, makes it almost impossible to
solve a problem. And then I felt it also it had become more focused maybe on winning
and focused on the financial end of it. And there had to be a better way. And I'd
always planned even in the cases I had, I always recognized it wasn't really black
hats and white hats. It's really a lot of gray hats but that if you told that to a
client, years ago at least, as a combative society that we've seemed to -- or
culturally seemed to develop, they'd fire you. But all of a sudden the free
enterprise system does work but now it has gotten so costly that these people may
come to their senses and realize that we as adults, we as human beings should go
ahead and resolve our problems. So I started the mediation, took it, was absolutely
flabbergasted with the dynamics of it. I even could solve problems at home just
almost in an instant just by listening and to not react but to respond when your
wife may have a problem which is more even satisfying than that part which has been
difficult to get moving: to some extent, the mediation process. It is this peer
mediation that we're now working with through the county schools, Fresno State and
that alliance we have. And that came up where my daughter says, "You know, this is
so dynamic and it works so beautifully. Why didn't we learn these as little kids so
that we could solve problems and avoid conflict and have a real closer relationship
with one and the other?" And so we're now doing that and it just is very, very
fulfilling. It's as fulfilling as winning one in court when you know the other guy’s
a bad guy. [Laughter]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Two last questions counselor. Looking at the past in Fresno
and looking at the present, looking at the future, where do you see Fresno going?
Fresno seems that it's sort of at a crossroads now. In this great Central Valley,
you've seen politicians on our city council and mayor. And we're about to be
involved in a very, very I believe expensive and contentious mayoral race that will
have a lot to do with the future of Fresno. From your advantage point, where do you
see Fresno going?
>>Robert Carter: I have great expectations for Fresno. I tell people you know when
the one thing that is so common of anybody that I've ever have whose come in here as
a guest, as a visitor, is they're so overwhelmed with the pleasantness, the attitude
of the people. I think that Fresno, we have this one great advantage even though
we've grown greatly and we have a real rural attitude. We're really in a sense like
a lot of real farm boys so to speak. And that permeates across the board from the
bottom to the top, from the religions, cultures, everything that these people have a
great, great sense of values. The business community has taken such an active role
with no gain to them really that I don't have any question that we're going to be
going places and very, very soon. We're changing the picture of the politics. Sure,
we may not have everybody we wish, but we're getting more and more people of great
caliber, real statesmen that are beginning to say, "Maybe I should go ahead and take
on my responsibility and work." So I think there's -- the future of Fresno is just
unbelievable, fantastic.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Last question: Knute Rockne once said, "When the great
scorekeeper records the score of the game, it matters not who wins or loses but how
the game is played." How does Bob Carter want the score recorded about the life of
Bob Carter?
>>Robert Carter: Same way. It's the way the game was played. Thank you.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, thank you. Bob not only on behalf of the Chamber of
Commerce who of course sponsors and supports the Leon S. Peters Award, but I value
greatly your contribution to our community and your friendship as well. So
congratulations and what an honor it is to have you on this video.
>>Robert Carter: Thank you.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Thank you.
==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay, for the record name, place of birth and date of birth.
>>Robert Carter: Robert Carter, better known as Bob Carter, sometimes just as
Carter. Date of birth, October 1st, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: I knew there was a sense of brilliance about you. October 1st?
Someone else is born October 1st but 1939. I didn't realize that.
>>Robert Carter: They're a little behind me.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, a little behind. When did you come to Fresno? Where were
you raised? Where were you brought up?
>>Robert Carter: Southern California. Southern California. I went to school in
Southern California. Went in the service out of Southern California. Came back from
the service, went to UCLA for 7 years, undergraduate and graduate -- or graduate in
the sense to law school. Practiced in the federal court as a clerk for the federal
court for a year to whomever but Jim Carter - a great federal judge - I looked more
like him than I did my dad. Then I went in the United States Attorney's Office and
worked the United States Attorney's Office for a year. I had the occasion to come to
Fresno and I didn't like the atmosphere in Los Angeles. The anonymity, the fact that
it was hard to even find you know really relationships. It was becoming crowded and
rather impersonal. I liked Fresno when I came here in August mind you I came.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And you liked it?
>>Robert Carter: And I thought, I cannot believe it. It's a small town but it's a
big town. It's a big community. It has access to the beautiful Sierra. It has access
to tremendous farmland and opportunities and the people were fantastic. And I says - went home and said "Honey, we're moving to Fresno." Because on the side I had
talked to the District Attorney like Clarke Savory in those days and said, "I would
like to go to work with you." And he says, "You're on." And I think he said "I'll
pay you 400 dollars a month" or whatever it was. I says, "I can get 465 in LA." And
he says, "Stay in LA then."
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: [Laughter]
>>Robert Carter: I came up and worked for Clarke Savory.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What year was this? And what was Fresno like when you came as
a -- into town?
>>Robert Carter: Anything north of Clinton, maybe Dakota was country. And that's
what sold my wife when we came here and then she went out and within 5 minutes she
was with the kids out in a canal catching frogs or something and shooting a ->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What year?
>>Robert Carter: 1957. February of '57. And been here every since.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: The Leon Peters Award stands for more than just excellence in
business. It stands for contribution to the community. And clearly your signature
has been -- your unselfish leadership that you've provided this community through
many, many entities. What motivated you beyond your professional success to be so
involved in the community?
>>Robert Carter: Well, really two things I think. And I'm not sure you know what the
two things are. But two things. One was the community was very good to me as a
practicing attorney. I'd been in the D.A.'s Office I had mentioned and also in the
senior partner in the Wild, Carter, Tipton law firm since 1960 and they'd been very
generous to me. I had great opportunities in the community and I'd made a good
living from the community. And you say, "You know what?" I think Einstein said it
for one that, "We all should leave, put back into the community, put back into
society at least as much if not more than what we took out." And I think that's the
motivation. And this community at least when I got most active was probably back 10,
12 years ago because I felt that the community is kind of moving off track a little.
And that maybe some of we people who have been here quite awhile, we should devote
as much time as possible to bring this community back to where it really should be
and ought to be and was, at least as I saw it when I came in here in '57.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tom Brokaw wrote a book recently called The Greatest
Generation. And without labeling you, you are a member of that greatest generation.
It was your generation that went through the Depression. It was your generation that
fought the big war. It was your generation.
>>Robert Carter: I didn't fight the big war. I wanted to go to the Marine Corp but I
did go into that in '45, yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: But your generation. I'm speaking generically. It was your
generation that put the man on the moon. What was it about the upbringing of your
generation that prompted Brokaw to say, "It is the greatest generation?"
>>Robert Carter: Maybe the Depression but maybe it's the parents. Maybe it was the
attitude that you owed something to the society and that making money wasn't the -shouldn't be the primary objective. When I went into the practice of law, my father
was an attorney. And it was always that this is a profession and a profession is not
just -- it means you're real good. A profession means that it's a calling in which
your goal, your objective is service to the community and to mankind and not for
making the dollars. And unfortunately I think that -- that gives you a sense and
makes you know or realize that there's something more out there than just money.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: One of your visions was that of the business -- Fresno
Business Council. You were the first president. You were one of the creators -- the
creator -- of the Business Council. In its short existence, it has proved to be a
very influential force in shaping our community. What prompted that vision and why
did you want to push that agenda?
>>Robert Carter: When I went on as the President of Chamber, our objective and I was
fortunate working with Stebbins Dean, was to bring back a relationship between the
Chamber in particular, but really the business community and the local government.
And that there hadn't been any dialog and really resolution -- problem resolving
between the 2 sides. When I finished my term as President in the Chamber, it still - there was a gap at least as I saw it. And I was fortunate, I was touted to go to
Colorado and talk to a gentleman by the name of Kaplan [assumed spelling] there who
had been involved in pulling government and business together. I felt that we have
not only some of the finest people, some of the finest people in my opinion in the
country right here in Fresno, but we have and even as exemplified in the businesses
in that the business people are just absolutely superb people as well as being
superb business men and women. And that where we were lacking we were no longer
working directly with the government as a partnership and having the dialog to
accomplish things. We were to a great extent I thought we were kind of sitting back
and complaining. Not only in Fresno. I think this was going on all over the country.
And you know, we could really change this place if we could get these quality people
to come in and sit down and know that they can make a difference. I got touted down
at almost identically at the same time on the Cleveland experience and a couple
other places and checked on that. It was right down the line. I then called a dozen
I guess it was of men and women that I knew in the community that are business
people. And they were shocked. They said I don’t know what you're talking about. And
I was saying, "Hey, we ought to get into this organization. It costs you 5 thousand
dollars just to be on the board." And they says, "What's that for?" And I remember
telling them specifically, "You know, you've got to put your money where your mouth
is. And I think the business people in this community have an opportunity and that
they will." And sure enough they did and boom it just took off and I'm very pleased
with what they, we've done.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: The focus was interesting on what the emphasis -- instead of
trying to be all things to all people, as I recall there was some very specific
things that the business council was going to focus on. How was that agenda picked?
Was it picked collaboratively or did a few people sit down and say, "Those are the
needs of the community. That's what we need to focus on."
>>Robert Carter: Well, when we had -- when we had our first retreat so to speak up
at Fish Camp, we laid the agenda out and basically -- I think we were basically all
agreed. We had the safety problem of course. We had the education problem. We had
the job situation. And we had the political situation had to be resolved in there.
And maybe one other but -- so that went on the agenda and nobody -- well everybody
agreed a hundred percent. But to say except on the political agenda, a lot of the
business people there even were kind of what’s this because they hadn't been
involved in the political arena. And that took about probably about a year before
they realized the impact that they could make on -- in the community if they started
being actively involved in the political system by working with councilmen and
working with supervisors and people to try to solve problems rather than just
complain because they didn't like the officials that were in office.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You were very instrumental in getting the endorsement and
support of the Business Council for the Commission on the Future of Education in
Fresno County. And community leaders devoted 2 years of their lives to looking at
education in Fresno County. And I can recall you from the get-go, you were at the
meetings and what did you want that group to accomplish when it was created?
>>Robert Carter: Well we accomplished it and of course were seeking to accomplish it
in conjunction with Mr. Mehas, yourself. And the objective was that we need not call
or shouldn't call it that, but little Hoover Commission on education, that everybody
was concerned about the track of the direction that education was moving. And that
we felt that you know we can go ahead and try to analyze this, bring in the experts
from both sides from all over the country. In fact, I think we brought them -- some
outside of the United States.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yes.
>>Robert Carter: And to then come in with some recommendations and the objective was
both by yourself and I know the business council that I was representing, that this
thing wouldn't sit on the shelf.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right.
>>Robert Carter: And that these critiques would be totally biased, objective and
that the Business Council would be the ones that help - which is the business
community - to see that it is accomplished. And I hope that what’s going to occur.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, it's interesting that a lot of the reforms at the state
level that the commission was a catalyst in for a lot of the legislation that we can
directly track to the work of the commission. And that's not self-ingratiation. That
literally did happen. You knew Leon. You knew Lee Peters as he was affectionately
known, very, very well. Lee was considered one of the philanthropists, one of the
successful business leaders and one of the true pillars of the community. What did
it mean to Bob Carter to be recognized as a Leon Peters recipient, along with Lew
Eatons, and the Bob Duncans, a very, very dynamic group in our community? What did
it mean to you as a man?
>>Robert Carter: Well, very humbling. I mean a great recognition. I mean Leon S.
Peters and the leaders that have been chosen before, I looked up to -- the Bob
Duncans, the Lew Eatons, these people that had been the pillars of this community,
have been the leadership of this community for many, many years. And to be put in
and considered part of that group is just -- I don't know what to say. It's just so
humbling and gratifying and makes you feel so good and yet so humble.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: At the, I remember distinctly at the awards ceremony, your
love of your family. It was apparent even when I heard you talk about Mrs. Purdy at
the teacher's awards ceremony. For a crusty old lawyer, you've got a pretty soft
heart when it comes to family and friends.
>>Robert Carter: Yeah, you're probably right. That's why I'm in the new business.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tell us about your new business. This is another vision:
something that's not part of the status quo, this conflict resolution. What prompted
you going out in that direction?
>>Robert Carter: Well as the years progressed in the practice of law, I found that
things were changing. And it isn't a criticize of attorneys. A lot of it candidly is
our whole processes in society become more and more and more complex that we have a
tendency with -- we as citizens a tendency with our government officials, whenever
we have something we perceive as a problem, we want a new law. And when I went to
law school, I remember when Dean Pound said, "We ought to go back to the 10
Commandments." Well in the last 40 some years I've practiced law, they've passed on
the average of 1500 laws a year just in California alone. And this constant passing
of laws and the constant regulations that come up, makes it almost impossible to
solve a problem. And then I felt it also it had become more focused maybe on winning
and focused on the financial end of it. And there had to be a better way. And I'd
always planned even in the cases I had, I always recognized it wasn't really black
hats and white hats. It's really a lot of gray hats but that if you told that to a
client, years ago at least, as a combative society that we've seemed to -- or
culturally seemed to develop, they'd fire you. But all of a sudden the free
enterprise system does work but now it has gotten so costly that these people may
come to their senses and realize that we as adults, we as human beings should go
ahead and resolve our problems. So I started the mediation, took it, was absolutely
flabbergasted with the dynamics of it. I even could solve problems at home just
almost in an instant just by listening and to not react but to respond when your
wife may have a problem which is more even satisfying than that part which has been
difficult to get moving: to some extent, the mediation process. It is this peer
mediation that we're now working with through the county schools, Fresno State and
that alliance we have. And that came up where my daughter says, "You know, this is
so dynamic and it works so beautifully. Why didn't we learn these as little kids so
that we could solve problems and avoid conflict and have a real closer relationship
with one and the other?" And so we're now doing that and it just is very, very
fulfilling. It's as fulfilling as winning one in court when you know the other guy’s
a bad guy. [Laughter]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Two last questions counselor. Looking at the past in Fresno
and looking at the present, looking at the future, where do you see Fresno going?
Fresno seems that it's sort of at a crossroads now. In this great Central Valley,
you've seen politicians on our city council and mayor. And we're about to be
involved in a very, very I believe expensive and contentious mayoral race that will
have a lot to do with the future of Fresno. From your advantage point, where do you
see Fresno going?
>>Robert Carter: I have great expectations for Fresno. I tell people you know when
the one thing that is so common of anybody that I've ever have whose come in here as
a guest, as a visitor, is they're so overwhelmed with the pleasantness, the attitude
of the people. I think that Fresno, we have this one great advantage even though
we've grown greatly and we have a real rural attitude. We're really in a sense like
a lot of real farm boys so to speak. And that permeates across the board from the
bottom to the top, from the religions, cultures, everything that these people have a
great, great sense of values. The business community has taken such an active role
with no gain to them really that I don't have any question that we're going to be
going places and very, very soon. We're changing the picture of the politics. Sure,
we may not have everybody we wish, but we're getting more and more people of great
caliber, real statesmen that are beginning to say, "Maybe I should go ahead and take
on my responsibility and work." So I think there's -- the future of Fresno is just
unbelievable, fantastic.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Last question: Knute Rockne once said, "When the great
scorekeeper records the score of the game, it matters not who wins or loses but how
the game is played." How does Bob Carter want the score recorded about the life of
Bob Carter?
>>Robert Carter: Same way. It's the way the game was played. Thank you.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, thank you. Bob not only on behalf of the Chamber of
Commerce who of course sponsors and supports the Leon S. Peters Award, but I value
greatly your contribution to our community and your friendship as well. So
congratulations and what an honor it is to have you on this video.
>>Robert Carter: Thank you.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Thank you.
==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====
>>Robert Carter: Robert Carter, better known as Bob Carter, sometimes just as
Carter. Date of birth, October 1st, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: I knew there was a sense of brilliance about you. October 1st?
Someone else is born October 1st but 1939. I didn't realize that.
>>Robert Carter: They're a little behind me.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, a little behind. When did you come to Fresno? Where were
you raised? Where were you brought up?
>>Robert Carter: Southern California. Southern California. I went to school in
Southern California. Went in the service out of Southern California. Came back from
the service, went to UCLA for 7 years, undergraduate and graduate -- or graduate in
the sense to law school. Practiced in the federal court as a clerk for the federal
court for a year to whomever but Jim Carter - a great federal judge - I looked more
like him than I did my dad. Then I went in the United States Attorney's Office and
worked the United States Attorney's Office for a year. I had the occasion to come to
Fresno and I didn't like the atmosphere in Los Angeles. The anonymity, the fact that
it was hard to even find you know really relationships. It was becoming crowded and
rather impersonal. I liked Fresno when I came here in August mind you I came.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And you liked it?
>>Robert Carter: And I thought, I cannot believe it. It's a small town but it's a
big town. It's a big community. It has access to the beautiful Sierra. It has access
to tremendous farmland and opportunities and the people were fantastic. And I says - went home and said "Honey, we're moving to Fresno." Because on the side I had
talked to the District Attorney like Clarke Savory in those days and said, "I would
like to go to work with you." And he says, "You're on." And I think he said "I'll
pay you 400 dollars a month" or whatever it was. I says, "I can get 465 in LA." And
he says, "Stay in LA then."
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: [Laughter]
>>Robert Carter: I came up and worked for Clarke Savory.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What year was this? And what was Fresno like when you came as
a -- into town?
>>Robert Carter: Anything north of Clinton, maybe Dakota was country. And that's
what sold my wife when we came here and then she went out and within 5 minutes she
was with the kids out in a canal catching frogs or something and shooting a ->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What year?
>>Robert Carter: 1957. February of '57. And been here every since.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: The Leon Peters Award stands for more than just excellence in
business. It stands for contribution to the community. And clearly your signature
has been -- your unselfish leadership that you've provided this community through
many, many entities. What motivated you beyond your professional success to be so
involved in the community?
>>Robert Carter: Well, really two things I think. And I'm not sure you know what the
two things are. But two things. One was the community was very good to me as a
practicing attorney. I'd been in the D.A.'s Office I had mentioned and also in the
senior partner in the Wild, Carter, Tipton law firm since 1960 and they'd been very
generous to me. I had great opportunities in the community and I'd made a good
living from the community. And you say, "You know what?" I think Einstein said it
for one that, "We all should leave, put back into the community, put back into
society at least as much if not more than what we took out." And I think that's the
motivation. And this community at least when I got most active was probably back 10,
12 years ago because I felt that the community is kind of moving off track a little.
And that maybe some of we people who have been here quite awhile, we should devote
as much time as possible to bring this community back to where it really should be
and ought to be and was, at least as I saw it when I came in here in '57.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tom Brokaw wrote a book recently called The Greatest
Generation. And without labeling you, you are a member of that greatest generation.
It was your generation that went through the Depression. It was your generation that
fought the big war. It was your generation.
>>Robert Carter: I didn't fight the big war. I wanted to go to the Marine Corp but I
did go into that in '45, yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: But your generation. I'm speaking generically. It was your
generation that put the man on the moon. What was it about the upbringing of your
generation that prompted Brokaw to say, "It is the greatest generation?"
>>Robert Carter: Maybe the Depression but maybe it's the parents. Maybe it was the
attitude that you owed something to the society and that making money wasn't the -shouldn't be the primary objective. When I went into the practice of law, my father
was an attorney. And it was always that this is a profession and a profession is not
just -- it means you're real good. A profession means that it's a calling in which
your goal, your objective is service to the community and to mankind and not for
making the dollars. And unfortunately I think that -- that gives you a sense and
makes you know or realize that there's something more out there than just money.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: One of your visions was that of the business -- Fresno
Business Council. You were the first president. You were one of the creators -- the
creator -- of the Business Council. In its short existence, it has proved to be a
very influential force in shaping our community. What prompted that vision and why
did you want to push that agenda?
>>Robert Carter: When I went on as the President of Chamber, our objective and I was
fortunate working with Stebbins Dean, was to bring back a relationship between the
Chamber in particular, but really the business community and the local government.
And that there hadn't been any dialog and really resolution -- problem resolving
between the 2 sides. When I finished my term as President in the Chamber, it still - there was a gap at least as I saw it. And I was fortunate, I was touted to go to
Colorado and talk to a gentleman by the name of Kaplan [assumed spelling] there who
had been involved in pulling government and business together. I felt that we have
not only some of the finest people, some of the finest people in my opinion in the
country right here in Fresno, but we have and even as exemplified in the businesses
in that the business people are just absolutely superb people as well as being
superb business men and women. And that where we were lacking we were no longer
working directly with the government as a partnership and having the dialog to
accomplish things. We were to a great extent I thought we were kind of sitting back
and complaining. Not only in Fresno. I think this was going on all over the country.
And you know, we could really change this place if we could get these quality people
to come in and sit down and know that they can make a difference. I got touted down
at almost identically at the same time on the Cleveland experience and a couple
other places and checked on that. It was right down the line. I then called a dozen
I guess it was of men and women that I knew in the community that are business
people. And they were shocked. They said I don’t know what you're talking about. And
I was saying, "Hey, we ought to get into this organization. It costs you 5 thousand
dollars just to be on the board." And they says, "What's that for?" And I remember
telling them specifically, "You know, you've got to put your money where your mouth
is. And I think the business people in this community have an opportunity and that
they will." And sure enough they did and boom it just took off and I'm very pleased
with what they, we've done.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: The focus was interesting on what the emphasis -- instead of
trying to be all things to all people, as I recall there was some very specific
things that the business council was going to focus on. How was that agenda picked?
Was it picked collaboratively or did a few people sit down and say, "Those are the
needs of the community. That's what we need to focus on."
>>Robert Carter: Well, when we had -- when we had our first retreat so to speak up
at Fish Camp, we laid the agenda out and basically -- I think we were basically all
agreed. We had the safety problem of course. We had the education problem. We had
the job situation. And we had the political situation had to be resolved in there.
And maybe one other but -- so that went on the agenda and nobody -- well everybody
agreed a hundred percent. But to say except on the political agenda, a lot of the
business people there even were kind of what’s this because they hadn't been
involved in the political arena. And that took about probably about a year before
they realized the impact that they could make on -- in the community if they started
being actively involved in the political system by working with councilmen and
working with supervisors and people to try to solve problems rather than just
complain because they didn't like the officials that were in office.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You were very instrumental in getting the endorsement and
support of the Business Council for the Commission on the Future of Education in
Fresno County. And community leaders devoted 2 years of their lives to looking at
education in Fresno County. And I can recall you from the get-go, you were at the
meetings and what did you want that group to accomplish when it was created?
>>Robert Carter: Well we accomplished it and of course were seeking to accomplish it
in conjunction with Mr. Mehas, yourself. And the objective was that we need not call
or shouldn't call it that, but little Hoover Commission on education, that everybody
was concerned about the track of the direction that education was moving. And that
we felt that you know we can go ahead and try to analyze this, bring in the experts
from both sides from all over the country. In fact, I think we brought them -- some
outside of the United States.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yes.
>>Robert Carter: And to then come in with some recommendations and the objective was
both by yourself and I know the business council that I was representing, that this
thing wouldn't sit on the shelf.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right.
>>Robert Carter: And that these critiques would be totally biased, objective and
that the Business Council would be the ones that help - which is the business
community - to see that it is accomplished. And I hope that what’s going to occur.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, it's interesting that a lot of the reforms at the state
level that the commission was a catalyst in for a lot of the legislation that we can
directly track to the work of the commission. And that's not self-ingratiation. That
literally did happen. You knew Leon. You knew Lee Peters as he was affectionately
known, very, very well. Lee was considered one of the philanthropists, one of the
successful business leaders and one of the true pillars of the community. What did
it mean to Bob Carter to be recognized as a Leon Peters recipient, along with Lew
Eatons, and the Bob Duncans, a very, very dynamic group in our community? What did
it mean to you as a man?
>>Robert Carter: Well, very humbling. I mean a great recognition. I mean Leon S.
Peters and the leaders that have been chosen before, I looked up to -- the Bob
Duncans, the Lew Eatons, these people that had been the pillars of this community,
have been the leadership of this community for many, many years. And to be put in
and considered part of that group is just -- I don't know what to say. It's just so
humbling and gratifying and makes you feel so good and yet so humble.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: At the, I remember distinctly at the awards ceremony, your
love of your family. It was apparent even when I heard you talk about Mrs. Purdy at
the teacher's awards ceremony. For a crusty old lawyer, you've got a pretty soft
heart when it comes to family and friends.
>>Robert Carter: Yeah, you're probably right. That's why I'm in the new business.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tell us about your new business. This is another vision:
something that's not part of the status quo, this conflict resolution. What prompted
you going out in that direction?
>>Robert Carter: Well as the years progressed in the practice of law, I found that
things were changing. And it isn't a criticize of attorneys. A lot of it candidly is
our whole processes in society become more and more and more complex that we have a
tendency with -- we as citizens a tendency with our government officials, whenever
we have something we perceive as a problem, we want a new law. And when I went to
law school, I remember when Dean Pound said, "We ought to go back to the 10
Commandments." Well in the last 40 some years I've practiced law, they've passed on
the average of 1500 laws a year just in California alone. And this constant passing
of laws and the constant regulations that come up, makes it almost impossible to
solve a problem. And then I felt it also it had become more focused maybe on winning
and focused on the financial end of it. And there had to be a better way. And I'd
always planned even in the cases I had, I always recognized it wasn't really black
hats and white hats. It's really a lot of gray hats but that if you told that to a
client, years ago at least, as a combative society that we've seemed to -- or
culturally seemed to develop, they'd fire you. But all of a sudden the free
enterprise system does work but now it has gotten so costly that these people may
come to their senses and realize that we as adults, we as human beings should go
ahead and resolve our problems. So I started the mediation, took it, was absolutely
flabbergasted with the dynamics of it. I even could solve problems at home just
almost in an instant just by listening and to not react but to respond when your
wife may have a problem which is more even satisfying than that part which has been
difficult to get moving: to some extent, the mediation process. It is this peer
mediation that we're now working with through the county schools, Fresno State and
that alliance we have. And that came up where my daughter says, "You know, this is
so dynamic and it works so beautifully. Why didn't we learn these as little kids so
that we could solve problems and avoid conflict and have a real closer relationship
with one and the other?" And so we're now doing that and it just is very, very
fulfilling. It's as fulfilling as winning one in court when you know the other guy’s
a bad guy. [Laughter]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Two last questions counselor. Looking at the past in Fresno
and looking at the present, looking at the future, where do you see Fresno going?
Fresno seems that it's sort of at a crossroads now. In this great Central Valley,
you've seen politicians on our city council and mayor. And we're about to be
involved in a very, very I believe expensive and contentious mayoral race that will
have a lot to do with the future of Fresno. From your advantage point, where do you
see Fresno going?
>>Robert Carter: I have great expectations for Fresno. I tell people you know when
the one thing that is so common of anybody that I've ever have whose come in here as
a guest, as a visitor, is they're so overwhelmed with the pleasantness, the attitude
of the people. I think that Fresno, we have this one great advantage even though
we've grown greatly and we have a real rural attitude. We're really in a sense like
a lot of real farm boys so to speak. And that permeates across the board from the
bottom to the top, from the religions, cultures, everything that these people have a
great, great sense of values. The business community has taken such an active role
with no gain to them really that I don't have any question that we're going to be
going places and very, very soon. We're changing the picture of the politics. Sure,
we may not have everybody we wish, but we're getting more and more people of great
caliber, real statesmen that are beginning to say, "Maybe I should go ahead and take
on my responsibility and work." So I think there's -- the future of Fresno is just
unbelievable, fantastic.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Last question: Knute Rockne once said, "When the great
scorekeeper records the score of the game, it matters not who wins or loses but how
the game is played." How does Bob Carter want the score recorded about the life of
Bob Carter?
>>Robert Carter: Same way. It's the way the game was played. Thank you.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yeah, thank you. Bob not only on behalf of the Chamber of
Commerce who of course sponsors and supports the Leon S. Peters Award, but I value
greatly your contribution to our community and your friendship as well. So
congratulations and what an honor it is to have you on this video.
>>Robert Carter: Thank you.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Thank you.
==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====