Milton James Meehan

Milton graduated from Orange High School in 1940.

He joined the Navy in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1946. He served in the South Seas assigned to the USS Teak and saw action in the Philippines. He was part of the Greatest Generation. A World War II veteran.

Some of you may know Milt as “Moose” and wondered how he got that nickname.

It originated from WWII. He was seen “pumping iron” on the ship and had a body builder’s physique. He was larger than his skinny shipmates. On the ship was a cartoonist who drew several cartoons about Milt with the bodybuilder’s body and his skinny shipmates. His nickname for Milt in the cartoons was Moose. And it stuck. The cartoonist was Bob Madge. Bob and Milt continued to communicate all these years and both contributed with stories about WWII, the Fire Dept and everyday funny things that happened. We are so lucky to have these first person accounts of so much history.

The following is from an old newspaper article:

27 year old Orange Coast College student was judged one of the top participants in the Mr. California Physique contest. Health and Strength magazine listed Milton as “one of the top six athletes in the nation” in 1948. He owned a short-lived gym in the City of Orange and knew Jack La Lane in the early days of bodybuilders.

Attended Santa Ana College and participated in track and field, throwing the disk and shot put. He held the school record for the shot put at that time.

There was an Army Air Base in Costa Mesa that became Orange Coast College.

Milton enrolled in their construction courses and was part of the first graduating class of OCC. He used his new learned skills to build a house in Costa Mesa and another in Dana Point. Those two houses were built without power tools and both stand

today.

Milton was a commercial fisherman/diver in Orange County and dived with Lorrin Harrison, a well-known surfing legend and commercial fisherman of the time. They dove for abalone and sold their catch to the local restaurants. He surfed a lot at Doheny and San Onofre in the late 40’s. There is a story about his brother, Robert, wanting to learn to surf. They were at Doheny and Milton told his brother to get the surfboard in the water and he will teach him. In those days the surfboards were made of pine and redwood and weighed over 100lbs. Robert couldn’t lift the surfboard and his brother Milt responded, “That’s because you’re puny”. He eventually taught Robert to surf.

He was a bouncer at the old Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa.

With all of his water skill he became a lifeguard in Newport Beach.

Joined the Newport Beach Fire Department in the early 1950’s, quickly rising through the ranks to Battalion Chief. In the early days of the fire department the pay was modest at best and most firefighters held outside jobs. During his journey he had rental units with another retired firefighter named Blake Paisly.

Another successful venture was a business in Capistrano Beach called Pacific Redwood Fencing. His partner was another Newport firefighter named Andy Wynn.

Another firefighter named Bill Thomas became his best friend and had similar

interest in real estate. They became partners and lifelong best friends. A great event

happened in his life shortly after Bill Thomas and Milton formed T & M Enterprises with the purchase of rental property together. Bill told Milton about a great lady at the credit union named Ruby and he should ask her out. He felt they would make a great pair. Oh, how right he was. Ruby and Milt were married in 1971. They recently had their 41st wedding anniversary.

When retired Battalion Chief Thomas passed away Milt wrote in a letter about his friend Bill Thomas. “It’s not ‘So long Bill, it’s see you later Bill”. The family has the same sentiments. It’s not so long Milt, it’s see you later Milt.

A Graveside Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at Pacific View Memorial Park.