TORRANCE—Former Councilman Jack Messerlian was recently honored by The Salvation Army Torrance Corps with its prestigious “Katy Geissert Helping Hands Award” at its 11th Annual Partners in Service Luncheon. The award is presented to an individual for outstanding and exemplary leadership and contribution to the Corps.
Close to 150 civic and community leaders, including twenty current and former elected officials from various South Bay cities attended the event held at the DoubleTree Hotel. The keynote address was delivered by Marymount College President Dr. Michael Brophy. Former Manhattan Beach Mayor Steve Napolitano presented a special commendation to Messerlian on behalf of Supervisor Don Knabe. Southern California Divisional Commander Lt. Colonel Douglas Riley and his wife Lt. Colonel Colleen Riley also attended.
Upon receiving the award, Messerlian said, “I’m honored to receive this award named in honor of a former Mayor who was a seminal figure in Torrance and the South Bay and whose singular dedication and commitment to the Corps and for the betterment of the community remain a lesson for us all to emulate.”
A long time resident of Torrance, Messerlian is active in numerous civic and community organizations including his service during the past four years as Chair of Advisory Board of the Salvation Army’s Torrance Corps.
He was elected to the Torrance City Council in 1994 and reelected in 1998. Prior to his election to the Council, he chaired the City’s Parks & Recreation Commission, preceded by his eight year service on the Planning Commission which he also chaired.
Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr. appointed Messerlian to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges where during his eight-year tenure he served as Board President, and represented the Board on the California Joint Advisory Council on Vocational Education.
Messerlian also serves on the Board of Directors of the Volunteer Center of South Bay-Long Beach-Harbor. He is a Past President and current member of the Board of Directors of the Torrance Symphony Association, a past member of the Board of Managers of the Torrance-South bay YMCA. And, and most recently he served as Vice Chair of the Torrance Blue Ribbon Committee on Charter Review. He is a long time member of the Torrance Historical Society, and the Friends of Madrona Marsh.
He is also active in the Armenian community in Southern California. He is past Chairman of the Armenian National Committee Western Region Board of Directors, and for eight years served as a Trustee of the Ararat Home and Convalescent Hospital in Mission Hills.
Congratulations
A well-deserved honor. We need more Armenian-Americans, as energetic, effective and diverse in their civic involvement, who engender respect in the community.
Congratulations!