MSJC Bus Stop Dedicated in Honor of Wallace Edgerton

Judee Edgerton, second from left on bench, is joined by local dignitaries at the dedication of a bus stop in honor of her late husband, Wallace Edgerton, at Mt. San Jacinto College. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

Current and former executives and board members of the Riverside Transit Agency joined Menifee city officials Tuesday at the dedication of a bus stop on the Mt. San Jacinto College campus in memory of Wallace Edgerton.

Edgerton served as Menifee's first mayor and was still a City Council member at the time of his death in May. He also was a member of the RTA board and was instrumental in establishing the Go-Pass program at MSJC. Thanks to this program, students receive free bus fare to any location, helping solve a transportation problem many of them face.

Edgerton's widow, Judee, was present as local dignitaries spoke about Wallace Edgerton's commitment to the RTA and many other government agencies over the years. Speakers included Larry Rubio, CEO of the RTA; Andrew Kotyuk, chairman of RTA; Melissa Melendez, California Assembly Member, 67th District; Dr. Roger Schultz, president of MSJC; Menifee City Council member Greg August; and Rob Johnson, Menifee city manager.

Rubio recalled a meeting Edgerton requested with himself and Schultz a few years ago, shortly after Edgerton joined the RTA board. Edgerton's idea was to establish a program that would offer free bus transportation to students, who commute from a wide area to the state's fastest growing community college.

"After the meeting, President Schultz and I looked at each other and thought, there is no way we're ever going to pull this off," Rubio told the audience. "But after getting to know Wally, we realized there was no way we could not pull it off. He always showed a general concern for people. Not a moment passed when I didn't feel better about myself and the world after talking to him."

After the remarks by several local and regional officials, the crowd walked a few yards away to the covered bus stop near the entrance to MSJC. There they unveiled a large portrait of Edgerton on the side wall and a plaque honoring him.

"At the time of this announcement, it was noted that Wallace Edgerton was a champion for public transportation, and he truly was that," August said. "But in my opinion, Wally was a taller champion as the quintessential public servant."