Johnny Grant was "The Honorary Mayor of Hollywood" and did he ever preside. Every luncheon, every parade, every ribbon-cutting, every charitable event…there was Johnny Grant. He was most visible acting as host each time they unveiled a new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When they unveiled the one for Soupy Sales, Johnny got whacked in the face with a pie. All part of the job.
Before all that, Mr. Grant was a radio personality and a TV host and a newsman and a staunch supporter of America's military men and women, organizing U.S.O. tours and other services to aid our soldiers. (He was an actor, too. One role you may have seen him in was in the Bing Crosby-Danny Kaye movie, White Christmas. Grant played the Ed Sullivan-like TV host.) Those of us who were watching TV in Los Angeles in the fifties and sixties saw him constantly.
I won't attempt a full bio here but I will direct you to this page of his website. Take a sec and read about the man's life, which was quite extraordinary. And here's a link to the L.A. Times obit. I spoke to him a few times at various events and always admired his niceness and his never-ending supply of energy. It won't be the same without him.