Ed Fletcher at the Mission Bay Park diorama in 1946. 'Colonel' Ed Fletcher (1872-1955) was a real estate developer and politician and very active in having state and U.S. highways built to San Diego. He was a director in the 1915 and 1935 Expositions, raised funds to buy land for the Naval Training Station, and for building the YMCA. He was in the senate from 1934-1957 and authored laws creating the San Diego County Water Authority and transferring ownership of Mission Bay to the city.