Sammy Davis Jr. will become the 28th...

Sammy Davis Jr. will become the 28th recipient of the Will Rogers Memorial Award on Feb. 28 when the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce holds its Beverly Hills Ball at the Beverly Hilton. Davis will be honored for his accomplishments as an actor, singer, author, comedian, producer and dancer.

Past recipients include Charlton Heston, Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, George Burns, Kirk Douglas, Jimmy Stewart and Greer Garson. Will Rogers’ son, Jimmy, will present this year’s award.

Seven scientists and engineers at UCLA are among 200 faculty members nationwide who have received Presidential Young Investigator Awards from the National Science Foundation. The honorees are: Peter Felker, Richard Kaner and Robert Whetton, chemistry; David T. Allen and Denny Miu, engineering; Christopher Anderson, applied mathematics, and Daniel Barth, psychology. The awards include a grant of $25,000 to help finance research.

Johnny Grant, the Emmy-winning vice president of public affairs and special projects at KTLA-TV and honorary mayor of Hollywood, will be saluted by the San Fernando Valley chapter of the Arthritis Foundation at a “Tribute to Johnny” dinner Feb. 20 at the Sheraton Premiere hotel. Campaign chairman Larry Van Nuys said Grant has helped raise millions of dollars for the Arthritis Foundation. Grant helped launch the foundation’s first Stop Arthritis Telethon in 1956 and was producer and co-host for 20 years.

Dinner chairman will be Tony Cassara, chief executive officer of Wometco Broadcasting Co.

Joseph M. Kaplan, president of the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the National Safety Council, has been inducted into the Western Council of Private Fleet Operators’ Hall of Fame. Kaplan was honored for his contributions to the trucking industry during his career as a safety professional. He has been associated with the council since 1939 and has served as president since 1979.

Phyllis and Stu Bubar will be honored for their contributions as teachers and volunteers to Temple Akiba’s Religious School, at a brunch Feb. 8 at the temple in Culver City.

Capt. Maurice Robert Moore has been named commanding officer of the West Los Angeles Division of the Los Angeles Police Department. Moore replaces Capt. John Wilbanks, who is the new commander of the department’s Pacific Division.

Moore of Ladera Heights holds a degree in police administration from Los Angeles City College and a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Redlands. He is a member of the Assn. of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the Los Angeles Police Officers Assn. His last assignment was commander of the Southwest Division.

Four Westside residents have been honored by the Los Angeles chapter of the American Red Cross for their volunteer service. Erna Baur and Shelley Johnson are recipients of the Spotlight Award, and Sylvia Kummer and Valeda Andler are recipients of the Candlelight Award. Baur teaches developmentally disabled parents at UCLA and Johnson organized a speakers bureau in the Red Cross West District. Kummer, a 22-year volunteer, has been supervisor of the Senior Citizen Flu Clinic and coordinator of the Health Fair Expo. Andler, a 15-year volunteer, was honored for her efforts in teaching, work with the flu clinic and blood pressure screenings.