Photographs, paintings and several trips to Yosemite Park gave Garrett Burke the inspiration for his design of the commemorative California quarter. Burke gave a slide presentation at the University of the Pacific on Wednesday. (Casey Freeman/News-Sentinel)

Gathering in Stockton commemorates John Muir, new quarter

STOCKTON -- Inspiration and vision -- two words that sum up John Muir on the new California quarter, to concept designer Garrett Burke.

John Muir and the new California quarter were commemorated on Wednesday at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, home to the largest collection of Muir memorabilia. John Muir, Inspiration Point in Yosemite Valley and the California condor are depicted on the quarter, which was officially unveiled on Jan. 31 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Sacramento.

Muir, who lived from 1838 to 1914, began the legacy of conserving nature. His efforts helped start the National Park Service. Yosemite, as well as a number of other areas, became designated as National Parks. He also founded the Sierra Club.

"Muir was not just an environmental icon -- he is an inspiration for anyone who wants to make a difference," said Harold Wood, chairperson of the Sierra Club Education Committee.

Burke, a graphic artist from Los Angeles, who spoke at Wednesday's event, shared how the design came about. He is now known to some as the "quarter guy" and has a personalized license plate that says so: QRTRGUY (on a Yosemite background, of course).

Burke, who has designed logos for pop culture icons such as Warner Bros., decided to come up with a quarter design by request of his wife Michelle, who is a coin collector. He made several different sketches before coming up with the John Muir concept. His inspirations were photos and paintings. After making the design, he educated himself on everything John Muir. He visited Yosemite and historical Muir landmarks.

He contacted Wood, from the Sierra Club.

With Wood's help, they got the word out about the quarter. He wanted to educate the public on reasons why the quarter design was worthy.

To Wood, the three reasons why the Muir coin should have been chosen were concern for the future, educational value and relevance. Now, Muir's legacy is minted on coins, and years from now, people can learn who Muir was and what he did.

The new California quarter.

Ross Hanna, the youngest grandson of John Muir, said he didn't pay much attention to Muir's fame. Growing up, Hanna was surrounded with bookcases full of Muir's writings and books, and he didn't talk about it much with other people. Ten years ago, he joined the John Muir Memorial Association and found people who knew more about his grandfather than he did.

He began to learn more about Muir and found that Muir saw a need to conserve, which was something not many people knew then.

"Now everyone recognizes the need," he said. "He's more responsible for it than any other man." Hanna commented that Burke did a great job on the quarter, and Pacific has done well handling the papers.

Garrett Burke's quarter design.

Hanna brought his Dixieland-style band, Phirehouse Philharmonics, to the event to provide entertainment.

Dale Stocking, of Stockton, co-chair of the Delta Sierra chapter of the Sierra Club, said Muir had a vision of what to do today so that future generations could enjoy the environment.

"He had the idea that all things are connected in the cosmos to be appreciated and used in a stewardly manner rather than by plundering."

Those in attendance at the quarter celebration were pleased how the California quarter turned out.

John Muir Hanna, John Muir's grandson, joins other John Muir descendants at a coin release party Wednesday. (Casey Freeman/News-Sentinel)

"It's a dream come true," said Bill Swaggerty, head of the John Muir Center at Pacific. "Muir represented the father of the conservation movement. He was a deep thinker and put philosophy into action for the preservation of parks."

Les Medford, of Stockton, a retired dean at Pacific, came to the event because of his interest and admiration for Muir. He has browsed the archives kept in the library. He added that his daughter happens to be the principal at John Muir school in Lodi.

"It's very appropriate that he's on the quarter," he said. "California heritage is John Muir."

Contact reporter Jennifer Snyder at jennifers@lodinews.com.