Dr. Melone Leaves His Legacy | The Great Garlic Tale

It all began when Rudy Melone, then president of Gavilan College, read an article in mid-1978 about a garlic festival in Arleux, France. This little community of several thousand people claimed to be Garlic Capital of the World because their event drew nearly 80,000 people over a three day period to sample their garlic soup. Dr. Melone believed that Gilroy was the Garlic Capital of the World and decided to prove it.

In order to launch his idea, Dr. Melone decided to stage a Rotary Club luncheon to demonstrate to the community how important the garlic industry was. He wanted to bring the garlic growers, shippers and processors to the event as guests and provide club members with information about the economic impact of garlic on the area - a $35.00-40 million financial bonanza at that time.

Don Christopher, a fellow Rotarian and a major player in the garlic industry, offered his ranch as a site for the luncheon event and the invitation to the garlic growers to attend as guests. Also, invited were food editors throughout the state.

The luncheon was held in mid-November, 1978 with garlic-laced food prepared by Val Filice, who subsequently was a prime mover in setting up Gourmet Alley.

The luncheon became a ringing endorsement for an annual garlic festival. Such food experts as Harvey Steiman praised the idea in his next column.

Melone and Christopher then spearheaded a group which incorporated the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association in early 1979. The ad-hoc committee began their plans in May and launched the first Festival at the Bloomfield Ranch in August, 1979.