Lung Assn. Honors Top Volunteer

Newport Beach attorney James Mitchell was presented the 1989 Pottenger Crystal from the American Lung Assn. to recognize his “outstanding service as an association volunteer.”

Mitchell has been a volunteer with the group at local and statewide levels for 20 years. He first was a campaign worker to build the group’s Orange County headquarters and later was president of the Orange County unit.

The Pottenger Crystal, awarded annually since 1967, honors the late Francis M. Pottenger, recognized as the first tuberculosis specialist on the West Coast and a founder of the American Lung Assn. of California.

Alex Alcala, an operating room orderly in Coastal Communities Hospital in Santa Ana, has been named the hospital’s Employee of the Year. The Santa Ana resident was chosen by his co-workers and received $500 from the hospital at a reception in his honor.

Travis J. Rasmussen, 15, of Cypress, who helped plan and install the landscaping and interior painting during two weekend work parties at an unwed mothers home in Los Alamitos, was awarded his Boy Scout Eagle rank at a Court of Honor in Long Beach.

Sharon Ratcliffe, director of the speech center at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, was one of three honorees named in the annual Teachers on Teaching Series at the 75th anniversary convention of the Speech Communications Assn.

“Sharon was an obvious nominee for the series,” said Jo Sprague, convention coordinator. “The series was designed to allow outstanding educators a chance to talk about practical and philosophical aspects of their teaching--why they teach as they do.”

An author of numerous books and articles and co-producer of two video projects, Ratcliffe was instrumental in developing the speech center she directs.

Newport Beach resident George Argyros, president of Arnel Development Co. in Costa Mesa, has been elected chairman of the Orange County Boy Scout Council board of directors.

Robert A. Lombardi, former chancellor at Saddleback College, was inducted into the Ford Motor Co. California Assn. of Community Colleges Hall of Fame at a recent convention in Santa Clara.

The Irvine resident, now a private consultant in Irvine, was cited for leadership, integrity and professionalism in improving the quality of athletic programs in California community colleges while serving on the association’s Commission of Athletics.

“Lombardi had a strong commitment to an academically oriented athletics program and fostered a climate for exemplary performances by both men and women athletes,” said Saddleback Trustee Iris Swanson.

After a yearlong project to raise money through bake sales and other fund-raising efforts, Holmes & Naver Inc., a 450-employee Orange design and engineering firm, donated 40 new bicycles to Orange County Social Services for distribution to needy children.

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