Learn More About the O'Day Short Family

Honoring the O’Day Short Family:

Remembering the Past, Inspiring a Better Future

O’Day Short, his wife Helen, and their two children, Barry (9) and Carol Ann (7), moved to Fontana, California, in 1945 with hopes of securing a better future. As a Black family purchasing land in a predominantly white area, they quickly became the target of racial hostility. Despite warnings from local law enforcement and vigilante groups urging them to relocate to a segregated Black neighborhood, the Shorts stood their ground, refusing to abandon their home.

Less than two weeks after receiving direct threats, on December 16, 1945, the Short family’s house mysteriously caught fire. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion before the entire home was engulfed in flames. Carol Ann and Barry tragically died that night, followed by their mother Helen the next morning. O’Day Short, suffering severe burns, fought for his life for five weeks before passing away on January 22, 1946. The fire, widely believed to be an act of racially motivated arson, was quickly ruled an accident by local authorities. Despite calls for a thorough investigation, law enforcement largely dismissed the vigilante threats that had been made against the family.

In 1950, Randall Pepper Elementary School was built on the land where the Short family’s home once stood. For years, members of Fontana’s African American community urged the city and school district to formally honor the Short family’s legacy, recognizing their courage and tragic fate. In 2015, community members gathered at a remembrance event to share their stories, reflect on the racial injustices of the past, and reaffirm their commitment to ensuring the Short family's story would not be forgotten.

Momentum toward formally recognizing the Short family continued to grow. In December 2023, Randall Pepper Elementary School dedicated the O’Day Short Family Unity Garden, a space designed to honor their memory and promote community healing. Shortly after, a student at Dolores Huerta International Academy, Cyrus Moss, learned about the Short family while working on a school project and took action to further commemorate their legacy. In March 2024, he submitted a petition to Fontana Unified School District’s Board of Education calling for the school to be renamed in their honor. With support from 132 community members, his request led to the Board voting on September 4, 2024, to rename the school O’Day Short Elementary School. The name change officially took effect for the 2025-26 school year with a remaining ceremony held on August 5, 2025.

By renaming the school, Fontana Unified is reaffirming its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion while ensuring that the Short family's courage and sacrifice are never forgotten. The renaming serves as a lasting tribute to a family whose strength in the face of racial injustice continues to inspire future generations.