“I remember Phil well from my early days as a Clamper. I became a Clamper in May 1984 and Phil was Humbug in 1987, just one year before I became an officer. Phil was instrumental in arranging for several of our Plaques that are California Registered Historical Landmark (CRHL) monuments including the Serrano Tanning Vats in Temescal Canyon and the Jensen-Alvarado Ranch in Rubidoux. The Serrano Tanning Vats CRHL #186 was recently (11/25/2023) the site of a Holcomb Chapter work party to clean up the site and restore the front of the plaque. This plaque, along with the Plaque for the “Site of Third Serrano Adobe”, bear the “Phil Porretta Family” inscription in the list of the “plaque placed by” acknowledgements on these plaques. Shortly after Phil was Humbug, he unfortunately became absent from most Holcomb Doins and hasn’t been active in 30+ years. I specifically remember the Jensen-Alvarado doins for a couple of reasons, 1) This timeframe was the beginning of difficulties in finding a Clampsite suitable for a Holcomb Clampout, especially in the city, so we camped off of Red Cloud Road just east of Chiriaco Summit, yet the monument dedication was in Rubidoux, 2) The monument was placed in an open field, which a few later became the landscaped park we see today. Phil was a great Historian, somewhat of a quiet, subdued gentleman that didn’t necessarily match the stereotypical Clamper profile, but a unique individual that had a heart for the preservation of Western History”
–James “Jim” Phillips- BH XNGH#24