Public Service Awards to duo
Winners of the 2010 Chevron Public Service Awards were announced at the Annual Meeting in New Orleans. They are Tulsa Chapter's Doris Yocham and Marin Chapter's Henri Lese. Both received certificates from Chevron Chairman John Watson. There is no individual chapter award this year.
For 13 years the Company-sponsored program has recognized exceptional volunteerism performed in local communities by CRA retirees, surviving spouses and chapters. Award recipients also receive public awareness and a $1,000 Chevron contribution given to a non-profit organization of their choice. Program coordinator for CRA is Public Affairs Committee chair Skip Rhodes.
Tulsa Chapter's Doris Yoacham, right, and Marin Chapter's Henri Lese, left, received their 2010 Chevron Public Service Awards from Chevron Chairman and CEO John Watson.
Awards are nothing new to Yocham of Sapulpa, Okla. They include President George H.W. Bush's Points of Lights" award for volunteering more than 10,000 hours; annual Human Rights Award from then Governor Henry Bellmor for helping eliminate employment discrimination through the Oklahoma Tribal Assistance Program; the City of Sapulpa's 2008 Business & Professional Women's Achievement Award; and in 2007 she and late husband, Dick, were named Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year.
Other Supalpa ventures
Added volunteerism: she is the Sapulpa Historical Society Museum director, a trustee of Sapulpa Historical Society Memorial Foundation and treasurer of Sapulpa Historical Society. The latter received a $1,000 Chevron check last year in recognition of her community service.
During 38-years of oil industry employment in Oklahoma, Yoacham worked for the Gulf, Schermerhorn, Kewanee and Warren companies, retiring from the latter as supervisor, General Services in 1988.
Lese's employer was Gulf Research & Development Company in Pittsburgh before transferring to Chevron Research in 1985 as part of the Gulf-Chevron merger. He retired from Chevron in 1996 after 31 years combined service.
Many Bay Area activities
Shortly thereafter, Lese got involved in public awareness and service activities in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1997 he was named environmental committee leader for the Marin County Grand Jury. Subsequently, as a member of Marin County School Volunteers (MCSV) organization, he became active in after-school tutoring in physical sciences/math for students of San Rafael and Terra Linda high schools. Lese received the Heart of Marin "Boards Leader of the Year"award in 2003 for his MCSV leadership. He remains active in the Terra Linda program.
Since 2008 this San Rafael resident has served on the Committee for San Rafael Community Preparedness Training for Disasters, known as "Get Ready Marin." The project prepares citizens for the potential impact of major disasters: fires, earthquakes, floods and mud slides. Information to residents is provided through neighborhood training sessions, community awareness programs and brochures.
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