Unless you live in a hole, you know that Bob Hope died on Sunday, July 27, 2003, from complications from pneumonia at his Toluca Lake home at 100. Unlike my other memory pages, I'm going to take tidbit information about Hope as follows:

Mike Irwin of Simi Valley drops off flowers at the gate for Bob Hope. He never met Hope, but said as a veteran he appreciated Hope's support for U.S. troops

Burbank resident Joe Roberts will never forget the first time he met Bob Hope. It was December 1944, and Roberts, an Army infantry man seriously wounded during WWII, was returning home aboard the U.S. hospital ship Comfort after losing a leg. Hope who was on hand to meet the ship when it docked in San Pedro, sat down next to Roberts' bed and the two chatted.

"He thanked me for what I'd given this country," recalled Roberts, 83. "It really meant a lot to me to have him there."

Roberts, a Burbank optician, was among those who remembered Hope for his compassion and generosity.

"He was as large in this community as he was in the world, and I think Burbank has been a great beneficiary," former Burbank mayor Michael Hastings said. "He shared his talents and his treasures with out community."

Hope's ties to Burbank were numerous.

In 1973, he was named the city's honorary mayor, and in 1989, the city renamed a portion of Catalina Street near NBC Studios to Bob Hope Drive.

In April of 1993, those studios were dedicated in honor of Hope's 90th birthday and his more than 50-year association with the network.

In 1987, Hope performed at the Starlight Bowl and later hosted a dinner party at the Lakeside Golf Club to help raise money to build a veterans' monument in Burbank.

Hope and his wife, Dolores, were philanthropists who donated more than $1 million to the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation. The facility's conference center bears their names.

Retired Burbank Police Lt. Don Brown recalled his first encounter with Hope, which took place more than 40 years ago. Brown was a patrol officer working the graveyard shift early one morning in 1962 when he observed a man walking down an alley between Olive and Angeleno Avenues twirling a golf club. The man was accompanied by a woman scribbling on a notepad. A limousine with the lights turned off followed closely behind.

Brown didn't quite know what to make of the situation, and radioed headquarters. An old-timer named Jack McKay got on the radio and barked: "Don't worry, rookie. That's Bob Hope."

Hope embraced the small-screen medium, where he played to his widest audience ever with a series of well-publicized specials. His last NBC special "Laughing with the President," which focused on his long friendships with many occupants of the White House, appeared in late 1996.

Bob Hope highlights:

May 29, 1903 - Leslie Townes Hope born in Eltham, England.
1907 - Family immigrates to the United States, settling in Cleveland.
1920s - Becomes rising vaudeville star, at first as part of a dancing act.
1927 - Makes New YOrk stage debut in "Sidewalks of New York."
1932 - Makes radio debut on "Capitol Family House."
1932-36 - Appears in several important Broadway productions, including "Roberts," the "Ziegfeld Follies" and "Red Hot and Blue."
1934 - Marries singer Dolores Reade. They adopted four children: Linda, Anthony, William Kelly and Honora.
1934 - First radio show premieres, beginning a record 62-affiliation with NBC.
1938 - Feature film debut in "The Big Broadcast of 1938," in which he and Shirley ross sing "Thanks for the Memory."
Feb. 23, 1939 - First Oscar appearance, presenting the awards for best short films.
Feb. 29, 1940 - First appearance as Academy Awards master of ceremonies. In all, he served as an emcee or co-host 20 times between 1940 and 1978.
1940 - Co-starts with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour a first of the "Road" pictures, "The Road to Singapore."
May 6, 1941 - Plays first camp show for servicemen at March Field in California.
1948 - First Christmas tour for servicemen taking part in Berlin airlift.
1950 - Makes first television specials, including first Christmas special.
March 19, 1953 - Serves as co-host for first televised Oscar ceremony.
1969 - Receives Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon B. Johnson.
March 29, 1978 - Host of Oscar ceremony for the last time.
December 1990 - Goes to Persian Gulf to entertain troops on the even of the Gulf War; his last Christmas show for troops overseas. He joked: "If anybody tells you I was in the Civil War, I'm denying it."
November 1996 - NBC airs his last special, "Laughing with the Presidents."
March 1997 - U.S. Navy christens the USNS Bob Hope, a 950-foot, 33,000-ton support ship.
May 2000 - Library of Congress opens the Bob Hope Gallery of American Entertainment.
May 2, 2003 - Turns 100 as family, fans celebrate.

A campaign to rename the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport after Bob Hope commenced on July 29, 2003. Former Burbank mayor Michael Hastings asked the City to Council to back a proposal to rename the facility after the legendary entertainer. "We've been talking about renaming the airport after Bob Hope," said Hastings, a Hope family friend who was accompanied to the meeting by longtime Hope publicist Ward Grant. "It just seemed to make sense that this is the time to submit this proposal to the (cities)."

Hastings asked the council to get behind a committee to explore the possibility of renaming the airport, and said he would oversee all fund-raising efforts.

"I'm sure there are going to be some costs incurred, but we don't want the entities to be saddled with costs," Hasting said. "We would work very hard to have it all funded privately."

Council members Dave Golonski and Marsha Ramos expressed support for the proposal, which will be considered at the council's August 12th meeting.

"I think it's a great idea," Golonski said. "I don't imagine funding would be an issue."

Also on Tuesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced plans to introduce a congressional resolution to name the city's downtown post office, at 135 E. Olive Ave., after Hope.

"I urge my colleagues in the Congress to join me in honoring Bob Hope's numerous contributions to our country," Schiff released in a statement.

Schiff said he plans to introduce the resolution when Congress returns from its August recess.

Hope is survived by his wife, Dolores; sons Anthony and Kelly; daughters Linda and Nora Somers; and four grandchildren.

Bob Hope Honors:

1941 - Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, plague "in recognition of his unselfish services to the motion picture industry"
1941, 1943 - Gold Apple Male star of the Year, Hollywood Women's Press Club
1943 - George Foster Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting, special citation "for his untiring zeal and the high level of entertainment of his camp tours in the United States and throughout the world"
1945 - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a life membership "for his many services to the Academy"
1953 - Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, special Oscar "for his contributions to the laughter of the world, his service to the motion picture industry, and his devotion to the American premise"
1959 - Silver Buffalo Award, Boy Scouts of America.
1960 - Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
1963 - Cecil B. DeMille Award, Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
1966 - Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, gold medal "for unique and distinguished service to our industry and the Academy"
1967 - Hasty Pudding man of the year
1967 - Variety Clubs International Humanitarian Award
1967 - George Foster Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting
1969 - Presidential Medal of Freedom
1978 - Bob Jones Award, United States Golf Association
1979 - Charles Evans Hughes Gold Medal Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews
1980 - Defence Industry Award for Defense Preparedness
1982 - Jefferson Award for public service performed by a private citizen
1983 - Professional Golfers' Association-World Golf Hall of Fame
1985 - Kennedy Center Honors
1988 - The first Hope Award for advancing the arts
1993 - Emmy Award best variety, music of comedy special "Bob Hope: The First 90 Years"
1997 - USNS Bob Hope christened by Navy; cargo plane "The Spirit of Bob Hope" christened by Air Force
1997 - Citation by Congress as honorary veteran
2003 - On Hope's 100th birthday, President George W. Bush establishes the Bob Hope American Patriot Award.

Thanks for the Memory became Hope's signature song with the release of his very first feature film, "The Big Broadcast of 1938." Famed columnist Diamon Runyon cited Hope's duet with Shirley Ross as a highlight of the film, writing, "What a delivery, what a song, what an audience reception!"

The song was an instant hit and won composer Ralph Rainger and lyricist Leo Robin the Academy Award for best song. What are the lyrics about a faded love - "Thanks for the memory, of rainy afternoons, swingy Harlem tunes, motor trips and burning lips and burning toast and prunes. How lovely it was" - doing in a Hope comedy?

The film, starring W.C. Fields, depicts a race between two ocean liners. Hope played a master of ceremonies for shipboard entertainment. As the plot twists, all three of his fictional ex-wives happen to be on board for the Atlantic crossing. Ross played his most recent ex-wife, and the song capped a bittersweet look back at their failed marriage.

Robin said later that the challenge was to write a song showing that the characters accepted the reality of their divorce but had "a large residue of nostalgia and a strong mutual affection."

Another Hope film also had that year's Oscar winner for best song: The 1948 comedy "The Paleface," which featured the son "Buttons and Bows" by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston.

Shall we now remember the song that whenever we all heard it we instantly thought of Bob Hope:

Legend:

1. Curry Ranch - Hope sells 500 acres in 1980 for $10.8 million
2. Las Virgenes Municipal Water District Sludge Farm - Hope receives $6.5 million for 280 acres as part of 1983 condemnation.
3. Micor - Hope owned majority of 940 acres sold in late 1980s for development. Sale price unknown.
4. Zuckerman - Hope sells 207 acres to developer for $9.2 million in 1990
5. Corriganville - Hope sells 217 acres to developer for $4.6 million in 1988
6. North Hollywood/Universal Studios - Hope sells 35 acres to Universal Studios for $1 million. Date Unknown
7. Hope Los Robles - 320 acres donated by Hope in 1976
8. Burbank - 57,531 square-foot lot still owned by Hope, valued at $1.79 million
9. Santa Clarita - Owns an estimated 20 acres, value unknown
10. Santa Clarita - Property sold, size and value unknown
11. Toluca Lake - Bought Moorpark Street home in 1939, where he lived and died
12. Runkle Ranch - 4,369 acres sold in 1998, estimated value of $30 million when packaged with Corral Canyon
13. Corral Canyon - 339 acres sold in 198, estimated value of $30 million when packaged with Runkle Ranch
14. Jordan Ranch - Hope sells 2,300 acres, including China Flat, for $17 million in 1993. Land is now part of the National Park

"A gifted comedian who entertained audiences for decades with his unique talents, Bob Hope brought joy and laughter to our nation. American mourns the loss of one of its great treasures. The 100-year-old entertainer, who died Sunday, made us laugh; he lifted our spirits. Bob Hope served our national when he went to battlefields to entertain thousands of troops from different generations. We extend our prayers to his family. God bless his Soul." - President George W. Bush

The President ordered flags to be flown at half-staff/half-mast on all federal buildings, naval vessels and U.S. posts around the world the day of his burial.

Bob Hope says:

You should have seen the Christmas cards I got this year. I got one card from Marilyn Monroe with a picture of her in a bathing suit. What a picture! You know how George Washington looks straight ahead on a two-cent stamp. Well, on this envelope, he kept peeking over his shoulder.

I wouldn't exactly say that Hollywood Boulevard is crowded with Christmas shoppers . . . but when I was driving, I put my arm out to make a turn . . . and when I took it back in, it was gift-wrapped.

But the crowds were very friendly, honestly, it was the pleasantest mob I ever lost a tooth in.

It's so crowded in Los Angeles these days , if you get a sunburn you have to go to Glendale to peel.

My brother was a musician. His favorite was small combinations. He used to hum while he broke them open.

Eisenhower admitted the budget can't be balanced and McCarthy says the communists are taking over. You don't know what to worry about these days, whether the country will be overthrown or overdrawn.

You should see the way our freeways are jammed day and night with people trying to get to Los Angeles from Los Angeles.

I was able to find my original birth certificate, but it took three guys to help me get it. Stone tablets are heavy.

I came from a very big family. Four of us slept in the same bed. When we got cold, Mother threw on another brother.

In all there were seven brothers. That's how I learned to dance waiting for my turn in the bathroom.

I left England at an early age, as soon as I was old enough to realize they already had a king.

I was really good to my mother. Whenever there was any wood to be chopped I'd run right out and sharpen her axe.

The word "father" brings back a lot of memories to me and there were times when I couldn't sit on those memories.

We had the typical gang. You know, Shorty, Fatso, Skinny, Stinky ? Then there were the boys.

We could smell a cop a mile away ? and vice versa.

My brother Fred and I were always trying to outdo each other. We'd be sibling rivals except neither of us knew what that meant.

Golf is a lesson in humility.

Golf is misery with a caddy.

Bowling has one advantage over golf. You rarely lose the ball.

I would have won the Academy Award if not for one thing - my pictures.

Gary Cooper and Greer Garson have been getting all the swell dramatic roles this year. How can I win an Oscar making those "Road" pictures over at Paramount? I'm not an actor ? I'm a traveling salesman.

What a country that North Africa is. I won't say it's dusty there but it's the only place I know where you spit cement.

We did a lot of flying over the Pacific, and once we had to make a forced landing. A forced landing ? that's an aviation term meaning: "Why didn't I go to church last Sunday?"

Truman could shake your hand and measure you for a suit at the same time.

Harry didn't care about image. That's because he had a weapon that could bring the world to its knees Margaret Truman's singing.

I'm really thrilled tonight, because they requested me to keep appearing before military audiences. What I didn't like about it ? The request came from civilian Audiences.

And thank goodness, the cigarette shortage is over ? I've got housemaid's knee from racing with the vacuum cleaner to see who'll inhale first.

I've been busy over at Paramount, finishing my new picture, "The Seven Little Foys." I work with a lot of kids in this picture. Theater screens are so wide nowadays, actors have to work in bunches.

It's very exciting to be here in Moscow with you Democrats. You must be Democrats or you wouldn't be here.

Incidentally, I can't say enough to you people who went in and bought copies of my book, "Have Tux Will Travel"? And I'd like to say plenty to you people who didn't.

Mamie is really relieved that Ike has another four years in the White House. She hadn't had time to clean up the spike marks in the hallway.

I'm very happy to be here in Thule. The temperature is thirty-six below. Only, we don't know below what. The thermometer went AWOL.

Did you see Nixon and Kennedy on TV in the hour version of "To Tell the Truth?"

Elvis is just a young, clean-cut American boy who does in public what everybody else does in private.

The Crickets, the Beatles at least it answers the question where our new talent is coming from under the kitchen sink.

Here I am in Bien Hoa that's Vietnamese for "duck."

How about men wearing their hair long? The newest thing is the sheepdog look. That's true ? I know one woman who walks her husband every morning.

I called the draft board and asked what my number was. They said, "For what war?"

Can you imaging being able to say that you left your footprints on the moon? I thought it was pretty wild when Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco.

They're getting ready for Yuletide at the White House. This morning, two wise men appeared on the lawn -- there used to be three, but you know how Ford's been cutting down.

Ford was the first president to use a lethal weapon a golf club.

We just don't understand royalty in our country. Anytime we see a crown, we expect a margarine commercial.

Reagan's the only president I know who's going to have an opening act for the State of the Union Address.

The Olympic spirit is still in the air in Los Angeles I think it's stuck between the smog and the ozone layer.

It takes Halley's Comet seventy-six years to get here. Big deal, so does a home-delivered pizza.

We're on our way to the Persian Gulf. It's a mistake! I thought they said Persian Golf.

George was brought up to be a politician. Before he learned how to crawl, he already knew how to shake hands.

In my lifetime, I saw that Berlin Wall come and I saw it go. It used to be if you tried to cross this wall, you could be shot at. In Los Angeles that happens if you try to change lanes on the freeway.

I am proud to introduce Dolores. Behind every successful man there's a woman telling him to keep moving or else!

I've been with NBC so long, I was here when the peacock was just an egg in fact, I may have laid it.

Washington, D.C., serves a very important function in our system of government. It keeps all the politicians in one place where it's easier to keep an eye on them.

My secret for staying young is good food, plenty of rest, and a makeup man with a spray gun.

It feels great to be ninety-five. I mean, for those parts of me that still have feeling.

No, I do the same things I did when I was fifty-five. I just take a nap after each one now.

The best way to look young is to hang out with older people, for me, that's getting harder and harder to do.

Hope's' Strip appearances include:

Riviera, Desert Inn Golf Course