SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Tuesday Meadowview's Richfield Park was renamed for LeVar Burton a Sacramento native and actor best known for his roles in the Reading Rainbow and as "Capt. Geordi La Forge' in Star Trek.
“Mr. Burton’s career accomplishment shows the possibilities that are open to all residents, no matter where they come from,” said Councilmember Larry Carr in a statement. “He is an inspiration to our youth, to people of our community and to everyone in Sacramento.”
In addition to the honor of renaming the park, Sacramento Mayor Derrell Steinberg declared June 11, 2019 "LeVar Burton Day."
Now that you know the name, here are a few of Burton's career highlights.
1987-1994: Star Trek: The Next Generation
For nearly a decade, Burton was Captain Geordi La Forge on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Even if you weren't a fan, you probably know who we're talking about by looking at the visor he's wearing below.
Why the visor? Because La Forge, the chief engineer of U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E, was born blind.
The visor allows him "to 'see' throughout the electromagnetic spectrum, from heat and infrared through visible light to radio waves," according to the Star Trek database.
1983-2006: Reading Rainbow
Burton may be most well known among children for his role as the host of Reading Rainbow on PBS.
During its 26-year run, Reading Rainbow won more than 250 awards, including 26 Emmy Awards (10 for outstanding series) and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award.
While Burton's time on the show is over, Reading Rainbow staff said online that they are in the process of "reimagining" the show and how to provide new generations with new versions of the same interactive learning that the broadcast version did for so many years.
1977: Roots
Based on Alex Haley's "Roots: The Saga of an American Family," the Roots mini-series tells the story of Kunta Kinte, a man who was captured as a teenager and sold into slavery in the 18th century and taken to North America.
LeVar Burton played the role of the adult Kunta Kinte in the mini-series, a role that earned him his first Emmy award for "outstanding lead actor for a single appearance for a drama or comedy series" in 1977 and most recent Emmy in 2016, for the remake of the series. Burton worked as co-executive producer for the remake, which won the Emmy for "outstanding limited series."
OTHER HONORS IN SACRAMENTO
The park and LaVar Burton day aren't Burton's first honors in his hometown. In 2016 his name was added to the Sacramento Walk of Stars.
"I have always claimed Sacramento as my hometown, and today I genuinely feel that Sacramento has, in turn, claimed me," he said about the honor.
Sacramento Walk of Stars pays tribute to "those who have affected the nation or the world for the better while contributing to the shining light of Sacramento," according to its website.
"Everybody comes from somewhere and I have always been proud of my Sacramento roots," Burton said after his 2016 star was announced. "From Glen Elder to Broderick to South Sac; from Holy Angels to St. Charles Borromeo to St. Ann's Elementary, Sacramento has imprinted itself on me in a most indelible way."