Writing Shotgun

R.I.P. WHITEY LITTLEFIELD-UPDATED WITH MEMORIAL INFO

Theo DouglasFri. March 07
 

Whitey Littlefield–Long Beach beer baron philanthropist, who rose from delivering brew to owning a Budweiser distributorship with Frank Sinatra–is dead at 75.

We’ll tell you more about Mr. Littlefield in coming days–but it’s already becoming clear that, in the words of his close friend, restaurateur John Morris, “The guy’s had a life.”

Whether he was partnering with The Chairman of the Board to purchase a then-Long Beach Budweiser concern, or subsequently pushing Bud like there was no tomorrow–or donating to a myriad of Long Beach organizations–Littlefield was a man who made things happen. Wonderful things.

Littlefield is credited with starting the Long Beach police officers Widows Trust Fund; helping reinvent the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau; donating countless hours to the Cal State Long Beach jazz radio station KKJZ 88.1 FM, where he spent 14 years on its governing board; and helping birth the CSULB Pyramid. But those were just a few of his many local efforts.

Other causes? A pet project was always packing friendly coolers with the King of Beers–and Whitey’s M.O. shows why the Utah native was so successful and well-regarded.

“He was known to go to people’s houses for a party and go to the refrigerator, and if there was any other beer he pours it out. Pours it down the sink,” says Morris, whose son Bryan is named for Littlefield–his godfather.

“And if there’s no Budweiser, he leaves. People used to look at him like ‘I can’t fucking believe you’re in my house doing this.’ But the next day, that house would have about 10 cases of Budweiser delivered to it as a thank-you.”

Littlefield is survived by his wife of 20 years, Meg; four children, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two brothers and one sister.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Congregational Church, 241 Cedar Ave. A life celebration will follow at Smooth’s Sports Grille, 144 Pine Ave.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) 5777 W. Century Blvd. Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA 90045 310.743.2116.

Have a Whitey Littlefield story of your own? Let us know; we’d love to hear it. And visit www.LBReport.com for more on this Long Beach legend.

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  • Whitey really knew how to make an impression on people. John Morris introduced me to him at lunch one afternoon and by the end of our conversation I already considered the man a friend. Whitey's bank of stories was as extensive as any man I have ever met, and I wish I would have had the opportunity to hear more them.

    -Evan Lamont
  • Theo Douglas
    Gary, thank you so much for writing. I'd really like to follow up with you. Could you email me at theo@thedistrictweekly.com?
    Thanks, Theo
  • gary martin
    ive know whithey for 20 yrs met him thru john morris another close friend.in 2001 I had a job that as it's major buisness was selling airline ladders ect.i lost my job and was really struggling financially one day whtihey calls me says meet for lunch at mums we sit have lunch get up to leave he hands me a check and says pay your house payment i tell him cant take it he says dont insult me take the check and get a job dick head.needless to say he found out i needed money decided he was the one who was going to help and that was the end of it.i payed the money back he never agian mentioned it and after i moved from the area i would call himto say hi we would chat fro a minute and he would always so you getting laid yet??this man was one of a kind the most generious and kind person I have ever met the gruff exterior was what he showed but his real friends knew true man and he was one of a kind when i came to town and needed a place to stay I woudl stay at what i called the 4 seasons seal bch with he and meg and also fell in love with there dogs and when i adopted my dog I named her abby after one of meg and whitheys dogs.i just can't believe i will no longer be able to call him and him tell me what a dick head I am and then say thanxs for calling.love you big guy!!!!!!!!!!!

    gary martin
  • Theo Douglas
    JoAnn, thanks so much for writing. If you would, email me at theo@thedistrictweekly.com. I'd like to follow up with you. Thanks, Theo
  • Whitey Littlefield was a regular at Bogart's for many years. As a matter of fact, he ordered the same thing each visit, which we named "the Whitey Special." (16 oz 3-shot soy latte with 2 sweet and lows.) We posted a note it in the store so any new employees would know, because, whenever he wanted one, he just called Bogart's Coffee House and said, "I'm coming in!" He expected anyone answering to know who he was and what that meant. We would write messages on the cups for him - or simply put a heart and the word "Whitey."

    When Whitey was ill, and couldn't visit Bogart's himself, Meg would come in to pick up his drink. She would make sure that each time the cup had a note to cheer Whitey up. He was unforgettable. We all miss him.

    JoAnn Adams
    Owner, Bogart's Coffee House
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