Honors for local leaders

Andrew Edwards

Business and civic leaders joined together Friday to honor the cream

of the community’s crop at the sixth annual Costa Mesa Hall of Fame

Awards luncheon.

The assemblage paid tribute to a family of hoteliers, a longtime

car dealer, a law firm and a community servant.

The event was sponsored by the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and

South Coast Metro Alliance. Honorees were selected by a committee

with members from both groups that examined nominations solicited

from the public, Chamber of Commerce president Ed Fawcett said.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Bob Robins of Theodore

Robins Ford in Costa Mesa. Robins, who was born in Balboa in 1929,

joined his father’s dealership in 1950.

Robins still keeps an office at the dealership, and his many

community involvements have benefited organizations including Hoag

Hospital and the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

When he received his award, Robins made the audience laugh with a

“slide show” that started when he held up a tiny slide and told the

audience, “This is a picture of dad’s little shop in Balboa.”

Humor aside, Robins was humble when he stood before the crowd.

“Receiving this award comes as a complete surprise,” he said.

“There are a lot of deserving men and women in this area who have

done more things than we’ve had the opportunity to do, but thank

you.”

Donald Ayres Jr. and the Ayres family won the Corporate Growth &

Achievement Award for their family’s 100-year history of business.

In 1905, Frank Ayres, Donald Ayres Jr.’s grandfather, started a

real estate development company in Los Angeles. The family developed

subdivision communities after World War II and in 1984 started a

chain of hotels that includes the Ayres Hotel & Suites in Costa Mesa

in 1984.

“It’s a good thing for my dad. He’s the one who started it,” Doug

Ayres said after the awards were given. However, Donald Ayres Jr.

handed credit for the family business’ current operations to his

sons.

“My boys do a good job; my boys do it all,” Donald Ayres Jr. said.

The Community Spirit Award was handed to A. Patrick Munoz and law

firm Rutan & Tucker LLP. Munoz has done community work benefiting

Hoag Hospital and the Orange Coast College Foundation and a list of

other partners’ work shows service aiding the Orange County

Performing Arts Center, South Coast Repertory and Opera Pacific.

“There’s just sort of a culture at the firm to get involved with

different community organizations,” Munoz said after the ceremony.

A new honor, the Service to Youth Award, was created for Lynne

Graham, executive director of Costa Mesa’s Youth Employment Service

of the Harbor Area Inc. Graham’s organization helps people between 14

and 22 find jobs.

Graham thanked all who have donated or supported Youth Employment

Service.

“It’s there because of all the people that truly love it and

support it,” she said.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at andrew.edwards

@latimes.com.