3 Community Leaders Honored

Three Torrance community leaders Tuesday were given the Jared Sidney Torrance Award for continuous distinguished service to the city.

J. Walker Owens, former executive vice president of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, was honored for his service to the city’s business community and the chamber, where he worked for 24 years before retiring in 1986. During his tenure, the chamber’s membership grew from 300 companies to more than 1,500.

The honor also went to Ken Miller, a former mayor and city councilman, for his lifetime of community service. A Torrance native, Miller served eight years on the City Council and eight years as mayor while serving with numerous civic groups. He is a former president of the Torrance-Lomita Board of Realtors.

Vernon Coil, who moved to Torrance as a child in 1927, was honored for his 16 years as city clerk. Coil retired from the post in 1978 after overseeing a number of technological advances in record-keeping and the conduct of elections.

The award is named after the founder of Torrance.