The Hawthorne Historical Society honored five inductees at its annual Hall of Fame ceremony Saturday, Aug. 22, recognizing an Olympic kayaker who survived a near-fatal construction accident, an NFL Hall of Famer, two pro football brothers, a longtime service club and a neighborhood pizzeria with Beach Boys ties.

The ceremony at Sociedad José Martí on Prairie Avenue celebrated Hawthorne's past and present. The society's event page listed the honorees: Cliff Meidl for Olympic athletics, Ron Mix for pro football, David and Oliver Williams for pro football, the Hawthorne Imperial Lions Club for community service and Pizza Show as a local business landmark. Tickets were $25.

Cliff Meidl: 30,000 volts to the Olympic flag

Meidl, born in Manhattan Beach, was 20 years old and operating a jackhammer on a Hawthorne construction site on Nov. 19, 1986, when he struck three buried electrical cables. Nearly 30,000 volts stopped his heart. The accident disintegrated roughly one-third of each knee, according to Easy Reader News, and doctors recommended amputation.

UCLA plastic surgeon Dr. Malcolm Lesavoy devised a procedure that saved both legs. It took Meidl three years to walk unassisted. He turned to kayaking during rehabilitation and competed in the 1,000-meter sprint kayak at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics. His teammates selected him to carry the American flag at the Sydney Opening Ceremony before an estimated two billion television viewers.

"I guess I just had more to do in my life," Meidl has said of surviving the accident.


Ron Mix: Hawthorne High's Hall of Famer

Mix attended Richard Henry Dana Elementary School and Hawthorne High School before starring at USC. He played offensive tackle for the Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers across all 10 seasons of the AFL's existence, earning All-AFL honors nine times. He was called for just two holding penalties in a decade.

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 as only the second AFL player so honored, Mix helped the Chargers win the 1963 AFL Championship. In 1965, he became the first white player to join Black teammates in boycotting the AFL All-Star game in New Orleans over civil rights concerns, forcing the game's relocation to Houston.

David and Oliver Williams: Brothers on the gridiron

Oliver and David Williams both attended Serra High School in Gardena and played wide receiver at the University of Illinois. Oliver was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1983 and later played for the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Oilers. David became a two-time unanimous All-American and in 1984 was only the second NCAA player to record more than 100 receptions in a season.

David went on to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award in 1988 and a Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts in 1991. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Pizza Show and the Lions Club

Pizza Show, the family-run pizzeria at 13344 Hawthorne Blvd., has served hand-tossed pies since 1958. In the 1960s, the Beach Boys were regulars at the restaurant in their hometown.

The Hawthorne Imperial Lions Club rounded out the class, honored for its community service in the city.

The Hawthorne Historical Society, a nonprofit founded in 2011, holds the induction dinner as its annual signature event. Residents interested in joining the society's board can apply before the Nov. 20 deadline listed on its website.

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