Escalera gained national notoriety in the early and mid 80’s within the plate collector industry. His tenure there lead him to becoming an Official Licensee for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, whereby a series of nine paintings were created and in turn made into collectable plates that were awarded to all of the visiting dignitaries from throughout the world. President Ronald Reagan, Mayor Tom Bradley and many other “who’s who” were recipients of this “official gift” as it was coined.