Perhaps Modesto's most famous native son and 2005 AFI Lifetime Achievement recipient, George Lucas, was born in Modesto on May 14, 1944 and attended John Muir Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High School and Thomas Downey High School. His father was a Modesto businessman who ran a stationary and business supply store, L. M. Morris.Co., located at the corner of I and 11th Streets. George read comic books as a kid, and was influenced by early television fare (much of it the serials of the 1930s and 40s, including the Flash Gordon films). He was a mediocre student in high school. After a near-fatal car crash kept him from attending his 1962 graduation, his focus seemed to change. He attended Modesto Junior College and went on to film school in Southern California. He is, of course, best known for the "Star Wars" films and his special effects house, Industrial Light and Magic.

He lives in Marin County, where Skywalker Ranch plays host to filmmakers with its state-of-the-art post-production facilities. Modesto has recognized Lucas with a special statue erected at the five points intersection - McHenry, J Street, Needham, 17th and Downey - which celebrates Lucas's early success, "American Graffiti," a film that reenacts the days of cruising the streets of Modesto. "Nobody has so drastically changed the direction of American film" as George Lucas, according to his biographer, Dale Pollack.

The Star Wars phenomenon remains constant some 30 years after the release of the original film. Three of the films are still in the all-time box office top ten - the original "Star Wars" resides at number three; "Star Wars Episode I" is number six; and "Star Wars Episode 3" is number ten. The consensus seems to be that Lucas touched the souls of moviegoers with his entertainments and has provided a new mythology for today's world. He is often compared to Walt Disney in his influence and genius.

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