Santa Anita Park Hero John Shear Selected as First ‘Hometown Hero’ for Sierra Madre Parade

The Sierra Madre 4th of July Committee announced Wednesday night that retiring Sierra Madre School Principal Gayle Bluemel will be the 2011 Parade Grand Marshal.

But from out of the field of more nominees and endorsements and the deliberation of the committee that followed came a separate piece of news that recognizes the achievements of yet another amazing Sierra Madre resident who has a long history in Arcadia.

For the first time in the history of the parade, this year’s lineup will include a new designation of Sierra Madre’s 2011 “Hometown Hero,” an honor bestowed upon 90-year-old Sierra Madre resident

Shear’s heroic act landed him in the hospital for , and garnered media coverage of the event that stretched from hometown newspapers to national television outlets.

That day, Shear cut off a 3-year-old gelding named Sea and Sage, who had broken free and charged toward the gate Shear was guarding. Without thought for his personal safety, Sierra Madre’s Hometown Hero quickly threw himself in front of a six-year-old girl that would have been trampled if the horse had continued unabated.

“There were twenty different people nominated to be Grand Marshal – far more than the committee had every received before,” Chairman Matt Bosse said in a statement announcing the two honors. “All of who were worthy of the Grand Marshal title.”

And though Bluemel was eventually chosen as the Grand Marshal, the announcement went on to say, “However, one other nominee stood out for his heroic acts earlier this year.” That nominee was John Shear.

So, in an effort to honor Shear’s heroism, the committee selected him as the parade’s Hometown Hero, a position the committee said “will be reserved for acts of courage and honor that go above and beyond serving the community-at-large.”

The committee also said that the Hometown Hero position wouldn’t necessarily become an ongoing annual parade entry, but left the possibility open for future parades.

Shear has worked at Santa Anita Park since 1961.