Paul T. Bannai, R.I.P.

Above, Paul Bannai and Armand at the 2014 Little Tokyo Oshogatsu New Year's celebration. 

It has been announced by the Nichi Bei Weekly that former Califorinia State Assemblyman Paul T. Bannai has died at the age of 99.

They wrote:

Former California State Assemblyman Paul Takeo Bannai, the first Japanese American elected to serve in the California State Legislature, peacefully passed away in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 14, 2019. He was 99. 

Bannai was born on July 4, 1920, 180 miles northeast of Denver, in Delta, Colo. He grew up in other towns in Arizona and Utah. 

During World War II, Bannai and his family were incarcerated in the Manzanar concentration camp in California. Bannai would go on to join the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, traveling to New Guinea and other places overseas. According to a biography, he trained with the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, before being assigned to the U.S. Army Intelligence Service. 

He would eventually get married to Hideko Bannai, where they would resettle in Gardena, Calif. 

After establishing his own insurance company, the Bannai Realty and Insurance Company, he would run for the Gardena City Council in 1972, and in 1973, was elected to the California State Legislature, serving four terms from 1973 to 1980 as a Republican representing the 67th and 53rd Districts.

Above, Assemblyman Paul Bannai addresses the Los Angeles
County Young Republicans in 1976. Photo by Ken Huthmaker.

I worked in the Bannai special election campaign in 1973 and served as a field representative in his district office during his first term.

Following his 1980 re-election loss, he was appointed by President Reagan as chief director of the Memorial Affairs Department of Veterans Affairs.

Above, Paul Bannai, Deane Dana, Armand and Hideko Bannai at the 1981 "Salute to Paul Bannai" dinner.

Although he was well into his 90s, he remained very active, so much so I used to think he was like the "Energizer Bunny", even when he had to use a walker to get around.

Above, yours truly with Assemblyman Bannai in Bannai's Capitol office in 1977.

I last saw Bannai at the Oshogatsu celebration on New Year's Day in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. He was rarely without a camera on him.

Above, Bannai and a frog novelty I picked up for him in 1974.

Bannai also had a big passion for frogs. During the 1973 special election, his had his campaign managers pulling their hair out when he decided to break from the campaign to attend the Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee in Angel's Camp. During one of my vacations, I spotted a stuffed frog novelty and bought it for him. It was presented to him in his district office. He got a kick out of it.

Above, Paul Bannai at the 2017 Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I saw Bannai was at the 2017 New Year's Day Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo. He was using a walker to get around, but he was determined to be as active as he could.

While it is sad to learn of his passing, Paul Bannai did lead a long active life of service.

Rest in peace, Boss.

To read more, go here.

From the Rafu Shimpo.

Party Boss Days

This morning, I was scanning some old photographs from my days as the chairman of the 53rd Assembly District Republican Central Committee. Some were pretty faded, but I managed to "tweek" them a bit so they'll look better.

The 53rd Assembly District comprised of Hawthorne, Lawndale, Gardena and some portions of Los Angeles and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It had about 24% Republican registration, so it was a matter of time the incumbent, Republican State Assemblyman Paul Bannai, would lose a re-election bid.

Up until 1980, we were lucky that Bannai faced carpetbagger Democratic opponents. In 1980, he faced off against Richard E. "Dick" Floyd, a rather uncouth and bombastic character who was an aide to the area's state senator, Ralph Dills.

The South Bay area had a number of quirky Democrats in the state legislature. Another was State Senator James Q. Wedworth.  One time, I was helping Dan Walker in his campaign for a seat on the Torrance City Council. When Walker held his campaign headquarters grand opening, Wedworth showed up (he was running for re-election that year). Walker had refreshment platters of meats and cheeses for the attendees. Serving forks were placed there for people to serve themselves with. At one point, Wedworth stood next to one of the platters and started eating from the platter with a serving fork. When he was done, he left the fork in the platter and walked off.

When I saw this, my mouth must have dropped in astonishment. Seeing my reaction, a friend (who was on Walker's campaign staff) came over to me with a big grin and said, "Well, Armand. Now you know why they call him Barnyard Jim!"

Anyway, back to Dick Floyd. Floyd beat Bannai for the assembly seat in 1980. Floyd later earned the antipathy of California bikers when he sponsored, and Governor Pete Wilson signed, the motorcycle helmet law.

Bannai later joined the Reagan Administration as head of the veterans cemeteries for the Veterans Administration.

Here's some photos (all by Kenneth Huthmaker):

Alondra Club, September 20, 1980

The 53rd Assembly District Republican Central Committee held a luncheon at the Alondra Club in Lawndale. Besides the usual political speeches, the luncheon featured a "Famous Persons Auction" of items donated by such luminaries as former President Ford, Sen. Barry Goldwater, Caspar Weinburger and others.

Above, Assemblyman Paul Bannai addresses the 53rd Assembly
District Republican Central Committee luncheon held in Lawndale.

Above, yours truly chairing the luncheon. Committee member Patrick Keller is at left.

Gung Hay Chinese Restaurant, February 5, 1981

After Assemblyman Paul Bannai lost his re-election bid the previous November, the 53rd Assembly District Republican Central Committee held the "Salute To Paul Bannai" dinner at the Gung Hay Chinese Restaurant in Gardena. The dinner had about 300 people in attendance and it drew some political heavyweights as Lieutenant Governor Mike Curb, San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson, L.A. County Supervisor Deane Dana, former Democrat Congressman Charles Wilson and many members of city councils of the cities in the district.

The restaurant was located at the former location of Bannai's campaign headquarters during the 1973 special election.

Above (from left), Mrs. Hideko Bannai, Lt. Gov. Mike Curb, former Assemblyman Paul Bannai and Armand Vaquer.

Above (from left), Wesley Bush, Lt. Gov. Mike Curb, Armand Vaquer and Bill Fernandez.

Above (from left), former Assemblyman Paul Bannai, L.A. Co. Supervisor Deane Dana, Armand Vaquer and Hideko Bannai.

Above, yours truly presenting former Assemblyman Bannai with a
 plaque in appreciation of his service in the California State Assembly.

LACYR Hayakawa Party

Above, yours truly introduces S. I. Hayakawa to the LACYR party. Photo by Ken Huthmaker.

Back in 1975, I served as 2nd Vice-President of the Los Angeles County Young Republicans (LACYR).

Above, Hayakawa with Assemblyman Paul Bannai and Armand. Photo by Ken Huthmaker.

On September 27, 1975, I also co-chaired a fundraising cocktail party (with Mrs. Hideko Bannai) at the Beverly Hills home of record producer Mike Curb. S.I. Hayakawa was the special guest at the event. Hayakawa beat incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator John Tunney in November 1976 for the senate seat.

Above, Assemblyman Michael Antonovich, S.I. Hayakawa, Assemblyman Bannai and Armand. Photo by Ken Huthmaker.

The party was seen as the beginning of Hayakawa's run for the U.S. Senate.

S.I. Hayakawa was born July 18, 1906 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada (he died Feb. 27, 1992 in Greenbrae, California). He was a scholar, university president and U.S. senator from California (1977–83). He is best known for his popular writings on semantics and for his career as president of San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University). (Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica)

He became a bit of a "folk hero" when he yanked out the wires from a public address system of some student protesters at San Francisco State.

For more on S. I. Hayakawa, go here.

Hideko Bannai

After posting about my days working as a field representative for Assemblyman Paul T. Bannai, I did some Googling and found this (Source: Rafu Shimpo):

Hideko Bannai, 82 year-old, Burbank, Calif.-born Nisei, passed away on June 14. She is survived by her husband, Paul Bannai; and their children, Kathryn Bannai (Robert Miura), Don Bannai, and Lorraine Bannai (Norman Mar). She is also survived by her grandchildren Jared Nagae, Sean Miura, Akira Bannai, Eliot Mar, and Dana Mar; sister, Alice Yamashiro; and nieces and nephews. A private memorial service was held on June 18, and an interment in July.

The year of the article was 2009. Searching around, I found that she last resided in Seattle, Washington. Paul Bannai will be 91 next month.



Note: In the party photo above, GOP politicals include Mike Curb (who later became California Lt. Governor), Michael Donaldson (later California Republican Party Treasurer), Assemblyman Michael Antonovich (now a L.A. County Supervisor), S. I. Hayakawa and Assemblyman Bannai.

Mrs. Bannai and I served as co-chairmen for a Los Angeles County Young Republicans party (photo above) featuring S. I. Hayakawa (before he became U.S. Senator) at the Beverly Hills home of Mike Curb in 1975. The photo of Mrs. Bannai and I (at top) was used for publicity for the event.

Above, Governor Ronald Reagan lends his support for Paul Bannai during the 1973 special election. From left, Hideko Bannai, Paul Bannai, Gov. Reagan, Kathryn Bannai and Lorraine Bannai.

She was a great lady and I am sorry to learn of her passing.