Salvation Army Honors Jack Messerlian

SALVATION ARMY HONORS JACK MESSERLIAN

asbarez
Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

>From l to r: Captain Neil Navarro, Torrance Corps Commanding Officer,
Lt. Colonel Colleen Riley, Jack Messerlian, Captain Rubina Navarro,
Lt. Colonel Douglas Riley, Southern California Division Commanding
Officer

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.