Three selected for Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame

Dave Brooks, Scott Lawn and Jay Riordan are Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame’s 2016 inductees.

The organization selected them on April 21. They will be honored during a May 21 dinner at Bernardo Heights Country Club.

The RB Hall of Fame, established in 1974, honors long-time community volunteers who have provided years of significant leadership to the community. The trio are the 110th, 111th and 112th honorees.

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“I was surprised ... and very pleased,” Brooks said about being selected. “Of everything I do, definitely Rotary has allowed me to go places and meet people that I never would have, had I not joined. In India I did polio immunization and in Ecuador set up clean water systems. I really enjoy Rotary. It’s my most memorable service for the community, locally or internationally.”

Brooks, nominated by John Goodrich, is 2016 Spirit of the Fourth president. He held various leadership roles for 14 years, including parade chairman for a decade.

“The annual Rancho Bernardo Spirit of the Fourth parade during the years Dave volunteered his services was successful because of Dave’s leadership, skills and dedication,” Goodrich wrote. “Further, from his years serving in this capacity, he established the routine, procedures and mechanisms ... so that future parade leaders have a workable and reliable template to follow to ensure the continuity of this beloved annual event.”

Brooks has been a Rotarian for 15 years and was 2012-13 Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club president. During that time he achieved the distinction of obtaining 100 percent participation in giving to the Rotary Foundation, raising more than $15,000. For years he has overseen several projects, and since 2013 been Rotary District 5340 assistant district governor. Brooks’ other volunteerism includes senior flu shot program chairman at Rancho Bernardo Senior Services, Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation board member for five years, Pathway of Pride fundraiser chairman and Cub Scout Pack 686 den leader from 1998-2002.

The Ohio native moved here in 1990. The former Powegian now lives in Santaluz and his parents, the late Bob and Barbara Brooks, were longtime Poway residents. He has two adult sons, Adam and Byron, and retired from his career as a chemical engineer at Hewlett-Packard in 2000.

“When I look around Rancho Bernardo and Poway, we’ve really got pretty much everything here,” he said. “So it is incumbent on us to do something (for others). ... It really is important to do something with all the things we’ve been given.”

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“It’s terrific, wow,” Lawn said about his selection. “Basically, I had three mentors in Rancho Bernardo who got me involved in the community — Bob Wells, Marty Judge and Larry McIntyre. All are in the Hall of Fame. It feels like a super honor that for my efforts over the last 10 years that I can join them. It’s an opportunity that’s pretty cool.”

Lawn, nominated by 2003 inductee George Cooke and 2002 inductee McIntyre, initiated and led the Save Webb Lake campaign. Within months, around $100,000 was raised late last year so a well could be drilled in Webb Park to prevent the lake’s removal due to the drought. Drilling is expected to begin soon.

His nominators wrote the fundraiser was a success due to Lawn’s “foresight, resourcefulness, persistence, initiative, leadership and hard work.” They added, “The lake at Webb Park is a Rancho Bernardo asset that has personal meaning to many residents ... Scott’s successful project saves this important community landmark for future generations.”

His other volunteer efforts include being Rancho Bernardo Business Association president since 2014 and the driving force in helping RBBA acquire Rancho Bernardo Honorary Mayor program after the local chamber gave it up. The contest is now RBBA’s largest fundraiser. He was among Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation officers who successfully launched the foundation’s new membership model designed to increase its grant program and community endowment fundraising. He was also Rancho Bernardo Community Thanksgiving Luncheon chairman for three years and 2012 RB Honorary Mayor.

The Illinois native has lived in Rancho Bernardo since 1986 and operated his Poway-based Greenway Lawn Aeration company for 24 years. He has two adult sons, Bradford and Alex, and two grandchildren.

Lawn said volunteering has been important to him since Alex’s elementary years. “I realized there are a lot of volunteers in the Rancho Bernardo community,” he said. “Rancho Bernardo has more volunteers per capita than any place I have encountered. While I was a volunteer at school and in Poway Unified School District, it wasn’t until I came in contact with RBBA founders Bob, Marty and Larry and saw how much they were doing, (that I realized) I was doing little by comparison. The rewards of giving back outweigh the effort.”

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“When I look at the people inducted before me, it is humbling and an honor to be in their company,” Riordan said. “There are a lot on the list that I admire greatly and who have made contributions that have made RB what it is.”

Riordan, nominated by 2012 inductee Steven DeMatteo, was chairman of the Poway OnStage Board of Directors from 2012-14 and a board member since 2007. Poway OnStage is the Poway Center for the Performing Arts’ non-profit foundation.

Poway OnStage CEO Michael Rennie said under Riordan the foundation increased fundraising revenue by 51 percent, ticket revenue by 112 percent, attendance at performances by 92 percent and there were more performances. Poway OnStage’s Arts in Education Initiative for Poway Unified School District saw its service to students rise from 2,300 students to more than 4,400.

Other volunteer efforts included being Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation Business Council chairman, Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club’s Housebuilding Projects Committee chairman and serving on the Casa de las Campanas Board of Directors and Casa de las Campanas Foundation. His efforts include being Casa’s construction committee chairman for the past three years and guiding its $100 million reconstruction. He was also a Rancho Bernardo Community Council president.

“(Jay) has dedicated himself to enhancing the quality of life and fostering the civic and cultural life of Rancho Bernardo,” DeMatteo wrote. “He has been a prominent part of ... Rancho Bernardo for a very long time and has given back to the community since day one.”

Riordan; his wife, Brenda; and their now-adult sons, Patrick and Christopher, moved to Rancho Bernardo in 1997, where he based his business, Dream Design Builders. About a year ago the now-empty nesters moved to Escondido.

His volunteerism dates back to his years as a Boy Scout in San Diego, when asked to help with a Cub Scout pack. “I was making a difference in someone else’s life and realized life is not fulfilling if it’s just about you,” he said. “It is fulfilling, sharing my successes with people and enriching their lives.”