L.A. civic medal of honor awarded
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday awarded its annual civic medal of honor to Thomas V. McKernan, chief executive and president of the Automobile Club of Southern California and Auto Club Enterprises.
First awarded in 2003, the civic medal of honor is given to non-elected civic leaders who are dedicated to community and public service, said George Kieffer, a member of the selection committee that includes a few past recipients and other citizens.
McKernan, 64, of Arcadia started his career at the Automobile Club in 1966 as a service representative in Pasadena. He has served as president and chief executive since 1991. He has led a number of state and local initiatives in workforce investment and government reform.
McKernan also chairs the New Majority Orange County Chapter, a group that supports a more inclusive California Republican Party, and the Orange County Performing Arts Center.
“We’re holding up for example a corporate executive who’s not just using his company to give donations to causes, but in addition . . . just [devotes] his own time to the needs of the community,” Kieffer said. “We think that kind of citizenship is needed now more than ever.”
Previous medal recipients include Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries; former Los Angeles Mayor Richard O. Riordan and his wife, Nancy Daly Riordan; philanthropist Eli Board; and Warren Christopher, former U.S. secretary of state.
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