Joan Carol Stone: "I'm so grateful to all the Santa Clarita and County of Los Angeles officials who helped to make 'The Cliffie Stone Trail' a reality, which includes ex-Mayor Jo Anne Darcy and Supervisor Michael Antonovich. Cliffie's got to be dancing around his bass in heaven over this! In 1950, Cliffie and his beautiful first wife, Dorothy, bought a 26-acre ranch in Canyon Country and for over forty years they not only raised their children (Stephen, Jonathan, Curtis and Linda), both of them were also pillars of this community and contributed to its growth in countless ways. Cliffie was quite a horseman at one time and he told me many times about the trails he used to ride throughout the entire Santa Clarita Valley..."

Curtis Stone: "I think I speak for the entire family that we're all quite moved and honored that Dad has this Equestrian Trail named after him. When we moved out to the Sand Canyon area in the 1950s, Dad started us all riding along many of those narrow trails. I hope someday to come back to my boyhood home of Santa Clarita and have a long trail ride with some of my saddlepals and tip my hat toward heaven where Dad is."

Jonathan Stone: "We rode horses all the time, and we have very fond memories that we've passed down to our own families."

Dick Clark: "I can't tell you how pleased I am that the 'Cliffie Stone Trail' is being dedicated today. It's really appropriate, because Cliffie was truly a trailblazer! He was a country music pioneer and helped so many throughout his career. It's appropriate that generations to follow should be reminded of his contributions. I know he would have been very proud to have his name immortalized on the Cliffie Stone Trail."

District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich: "We are proud to honor Cliffie Stone, a great trailblazer who was a vital member of the community. He encouraged young talent to follow their dreams and to develop their God-given talents. We remember him for his love and dedication to his family, to his fellow artists, musicians and writers."

Mayor Laurene Weste: "We are so proud to be able to keep the memory of Cliffie Stone alive. This trail represents a little thread of Americana, and a rich heritage that will be passed on for generations to come."

The Signal, the newpaper of Santa Clarita Valley, California, ran this article on September 7, 2001:

Equestrian Trail Named in Honor of Cliffie Stone

By Margie Anne Clark
Signal Staff Writer

It was happy trails to beloved country western icon and longtime Santa Clarita resident, Cliffie Stone, whose memory will live on with the newly named Cliffie Stone Memorial Trail.

The trail is located in the new Tesoro del Valle project site. In a special tribute to Stone, Fifth District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and the Department of' Parks and Recreation, held a special ceremony commemorating the renaming of the San Francisquito Trail. The equestrian trail is a part of the "Master Plan of Trails" that runs through the newly approved housing communities located in North Valencia off of Copper Hills Drive.

"We are proud to honor Cliffie Stone, a great trailblazer who was a vital member of the community," Antonovich said. "He encouraged young talent to follow their dreams and to develop their God-given talents."

The ceremony began with opening remarks by Regional Recreation Director Karen L. Grant. Frank Gonzales served as the Master of Ceremonies. The event opened with an invocation given by the Rev. Jody Milligan, a longtime friend of Cliffie Stone. Lisa Torres sang an a cappella version of The National Anthem. Antonovich spoke following the anthem. Prior to the ceremony guests enjoyed a continental style breakfast, provided by Montalvo Properties.

"We remember him for his love and dedication to his family, to his fellow artists, musicians and writers," Antonovich said. Antonovich described Stone's career as a founding member of the Academy of Country Music and an original member of the Country Music Association.

As member of the community since the 1950s, Stone served as president of the school board, as well as on the board of Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. He was also an honorary mayor of the Santa Clarita Valley. Stone was among the first to be inducted into the Santa Clarita Walk of Western Stars and also has a star on he Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"Just as Cliffie was very important to our valley, equestrian trails are also a very important part of the heritage of the Santa Clarita Valley," Antonovich said.

Antonovich said to expand the trail systems, the Los Angeles County office has been working with the city, county staff, the community, and property owners to put into place a temporary trail network through the Tesoro del Valle project and the Santa Clarita Trails Valley advisory community. "They're going to be working to develop future trails for the area," he said.

Following his address, Antonovich introduced Joan Carol Stone, the widow of Cliffie Stone. She expressed her thanks to everyone who made the trail dedication possible. "I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled Cliffie would have been to have the main equestrian trail, named after him. He's got to be dancing around his bass in heaven over this," Stone said.

Cliffie Stone's children spoke about growing up in the Santa Clarita Valley when it was known as Saugus. Jonathan Stone, said riding horses became an integral part of his growing up years when the family moved from Burbank to Santa Clarita. "We rode horses all the time, and we have very fond memories that we've passed down to our own families."

Antonovich said he was pleased with the expansion of the trail system in the SCV, while recognizing the many individuals, organizations, and companies involved in making the trails a reality. Antonovich recognized his field deputy Conal McNamara, and field representative Millie Jones for their work in forwarding the progress of the trails. He also acknowledged Bill Rattazzi, of Sun Cal Properties, and John Evans, a Montalvo Properties L.L.C. agent, as well as Bernie Clougherty, who has owned the Clougherty Ranch property for more than 50 years.

Antonovich announced the upcoming County Trail Ride which will take place on Oct. 21. Antonovich said the county has recently acquired land next to Vasquez Rocks.

"We are so proud to be able to keep the memory of Cliffie Stone alive. This trail represents a little thread of Americana, and a rich heritage that will be passed on for generations to come," Mayor Laurene Weste said.

Rev. Jody Milligan (Invocation exerpts): "I'm honored to participate in the 'Cliffie Stone Memorial Trail' dedication. Cliffie's spirit is here with us today as are the Tataviam ancestors who began living in the Santa Clarita Valley over 1500 hundred years ago.

Before offering a prayer, I'd like to share a little background with you. Joan Carol and I met and became friends years ago while on a spiritual quest in Arizona. When she married Cliffie, my husband, John, and I were delighted, because we had followed his career over the years and it was an unexpected honor to meet him. We were also guests in their warm inviting home on many occasions, which displayed not only Cliffie's many awards, but exhibited their mutual interest in native American culture.

Rolling Thunder - a wonderful Shoshone medicine man and teacher - once said to me: 'It's not the blood that flows in the veins that counts, but where the heart lies.' And I truly believe that Cliffie's heart lay in the American Native way! He was one of those who believed in the tradition of honoring Mother Earth and walking in balance. He loved life to the fullest and found the good in everyone he met. He was entering his 81st year when he passed away. In Lakota tradition, Cliffie was beginning his fourth journey around the Medicine Wheel, which is a time when one is considered wise, having walked the path while learning life's lessons. Cliffie's life was complete and he crossed over as an honored elder.

Please bow your heads:
Great Spirit:

We send up our voices this day to honor one of your children. We honor the four directions and all the ancestors who have walked here before us. We honor sacred Mother Earth who gives all that nourishes us. We give thanks to the sky that gives us the air we breathe, to the sun that warms us, to the rain that falls gently on our faces and for the beauty that surrounds us. Help us to honor, protect and cherish this great Mother Earth so that our children and our childrens' children are protected and have a place to dwell in beauty. We ask for and accept your blessing upon this trail that is being dedicated this day as the 'Cliffie Stone Memorial Trail.' May it bring blessings to all who travel on its treasured name sake. We know that Cliffie's love and energy will be felt by those who walk or ride the trail and we pray they do so with honor.

We ask for and accept all these blessings in all the beloved names that thou are known by.

Amen and A ho"