Jesse Franklin McHam, 95; Co-Founded Fernando Award

Jesse Franklin McHam, a former Los Angeles city commissioner, co-founder of the Fernando Award and known as “Mr. San Fernando” for his outstanding record of volunteer work in the San Fernando Valley, has died. He was 95.

McHam died Sunday of circulatory problems at his Montecito home, according to Angel McHam, his wife of 71 years. Born in Paris, Texas, McHam spent his childhood there and in Dallas. He attended a military academy for a year there before heading to California in 1923, where he became a salesman for various cosmetics companies before launching Amco Cosmetics Inc., which he and his wife operated until the early ‘90s.

The couple moved to Woodland Hills in 1950, where they lived for 45 years before moving to Montecito to be closer to their family.

In 1967, McHam was named commissioner of parking by Mayor Sam Yorty.

In 1958, McHam helped found the Fernando Award, which honors outstanding volunteerism in the San Fernando Valley. He was an early recipient. In 1993, the organization’s board paid tribute to McHam for the 20,000 hours of service he donated to civic and charitable boards, task forces and committees over 50 years by renaming the annual Fernando Award Nomination Luncheon in his honor.

He was secretary and for nine years president of the Fernando Award committee.

“He was an integral part of the Fernando Award and inspired a lot of us to continue in the cause of volunteerism at the various chambers and the Valley at large,” said Joe Sandoval, program manager for the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce.”

“Jesse McHam was the heart and soul of the Fernando Award,” said Dave Fleming, former recipient and past president of the Fernando Award Inc. “He was a committee of one who spent thousands of hours, literally, trying to preserve and expand the influence of the Fernando Award . . . he really epitomized the spirit of Fernando in that the time he devoted was all volunteer.”

McHam’s affiliations were numerous, but his mainstays were the Rotary Club and the Pacific Lodge Boys Home, where he served on the board of directors for several decades. He also served on the boards of the Community Chest, the Valley Area United Way, and the Planning Council of the San Fernando Valley.

He was also vice president of the Rapid Transit Foundation.

In addition to his wife, McHam is survived by a daughter, Alice Krebs of Montecito; a son, Robert McHam of Brooksville, Fla.; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Santa Barbara Cemetery Chapel, 109 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara.