This Father's Day, I am pondering the fatherhood of this community. In this region's relatively recent incarnation as an urban success, much good has happened since Dan Stephenson came to the Temecula Valley in 1968.
Stephenson formed Rancho Consultants in 1971 with "a tight-knit group of knowledgeable professionals," according to the history outlined at www.rancongroup.com. The name was shortened to "Rancon" in the 1980s. The company diverged into different facets of the land development business while adapting to changing economies.
During the decades of real estate market booms and busts, Stephenson developed a knack for assembling "an integrated network of real estate-related companies and divisions ... to help acquire, develop, market and sell properties" and "set the bar for a series of successful private syndications."
Per its website, The Rancon Group is the "Inland Empire's leading developer" including major business centers in Ontario and San Bernardino.
(As a matter of full disclosure and strange coincidence, it happens that my wife and I inherited some shares of a couple of those early Rancon limited partnerships that were purchased long before our move to Temecula.)
Dan and Beverly Stephenson are known for their philanthropic endeavors in giving back to the community. Their support and fundraising effort behind the Old Town Temecula Community Theater is but one shining testament of how their tremendous generosity has helped make the Temecula Valley such a beautiful place to live and prosper.
Therefore, it is a puzzlement that the man who rightfully deserves credit for fathering much of the growth in the Inland Valley has been so conspicuously quiet about a bully in town threatening to kick dirt in the face of the community that Stephenson largely helped nurture.
Clearly, the Inland Empire's leading land developer must maintain friendly business relationships with the building and construction community. It is also clear that Riverside County is but one piece of the Rancon empire ---- and the Temecula Valley is only a tiny fraction of larger empires.
The company history Internet page concludes: "The Rancon Group continues to build relationships, build communities and build a legacy ..." It does.
It is obviously awkward for a corporation/person who has built so much to take a stand against obtaining nearby building ingredients for future development.
However, if Stephenson, modern-day father of the Temecula Valley, were to find an effective way to halt the hostile threat of the proposed Liberty Quarry, he would become an instant legend.
In a world of empires, Stephenson could emerge as the Temecula Valley's true "White Knight."
PAUL JACOBS writes from Temecula. Contact him at TemeculaPaul@aol.com.
