Only One of the Rams’ Faithful Shows Up to Watch the Bitter End : Football: Fan from La Habra recalls the team’s glory days while trucks pull out of the team’s training facility.

Jim Fry, the lone Ram fan, sat faithful to the end, while beyond the fences movers made preparations to ship his team to St. Louis.

All day Tuesday the trucks came and went, and despite the team’s concern about being interrupted by sentimental goodbys or a disenchanted mob, there was only the lone Ram fan.

Blocked from entering Rams Park by team edict, the lone Ram fan was left to regale George Campbell, the gatekeeper, with fond memories of Eric Dickerson, Jim Everett and Mike Lansford.

“You see this,” he said, tugging at a diamond-studded gold “Ram” necklace. “This was a Father’s Day gift back in 1990 . . . we were a winning team back then.

“I’m not going to lie; it’s probably ridiculous me being here, but for me, the Rams leaving is like losing a part of my family.”

Fry, who lives in La Habra and worked as a structural mechanic for McDonnell Douglas before being laid off a few months ago, has Roman Phifer’s autograph, Jerome Bettis’ jersey and not a hint of embarrassment in being the only one here.

“I’m a fan and I guess I just can’t let go. I’m not a watermelon head, but I’m also not one of these people who stick their finger up in the air and see which way the wind blows and I’ll be that fan this week. I’m a Ram fan.

“Sure, I’m upset, mad at John Shaw and Georgia for taking the team away. All they had to do was put a winning product on the field, but then all this has been a big part of my life. There are memories I will cherish for a long time.”

During the last 13 years, Fry has gone out of his way to meet Ram owner Georgia Frontiere and get her autograph. He has been invited to watch team practices. He took his dog, Brandy, and ran it with Everett’s dog, Gunner.

“There have been some wonderful times . . . My daughter’s presently a senior at Cal State Fullerton, but when she was 11, Mike Lansford presented her with a football on behalf of the Los Angeles Rams one day after practice. I’m telling you, that’s something she will never forget as long as she lives.”

This week thieves swiped the “Sorry, Rams Practice Closed” sign outside Rams Park, but there was no getting past George, the gatekeeper.

“I got my orders,” he said. “I would have thought more people would have been here, but a lot of people think the Rams are already gone.”

Bob Pasalich, a retired police officer from South Bend, Ind., who had worked the dressing rooms at Notre Dame Stadium and who had voluntarily assisted Ram cinematographer Mickey Dukich for the past 20 years after moving here, gained clearance to Rams Park.

“You look at only one Ram fan sitting there, but then look at it this way,” Pasalich said. “Who the hell wants to go to a funeral? It isn’t that they don’t want to show respect, but it’s an occasion nobody really wants to go to.”

Pasalich, who went through the garbage gathering Ram memorabilia to distribute to charity organizations, left Rams Park for the last time none-too-happy.

“I can’t sleep at night when I think about it,” he said. “Oh, hell yes. My life is about over, but there are so many people here that I know. What are they going to do?

“Mickey’s been here 39 years and nobody even said goodby to him. This is not class. No going-away party for people like Mickey. . . . No class.”

No such objection, however, from the last Ram fan at Rams Park.

“Maybe some day I’ll have the last laugh,” he said, “when I give my valuable collectibles and memorabilia to my grandchildren.”