The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada announced its choice for “La Cañadan of Year” for 2020 is Greg Brown. Brown was recognized for his outstanding volunteer service that spans more than three decades. The award was established 70 years ago to applaud exemplary leadership and hard-working dedication that has made a positive impact on the La Cañada Flintridge community, local youth, and a church or house of worship.

Brown will be honored at a special buffet luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 11:30 a.m. at the recreation hall at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada Flintridge.

“La Cañadan of the Year” committee chairperson, Nick Berkuta said, “We invite the public to come together in a show of appreciation for Greg’s selfless contributions and great community spirit. We look forward to acknowledging him in this special way for the countless volunteer hours he’s given over the years.”

Brown has been on the civic forefront as a member of the La Cañada Flintridge City Council from 2003-11 and from 2017-20 and was mayor pro tem from 2005-06, and 2019-20. He served as mayor from 2006-07. He was on numerous LCF City Council sub-committees, including those overseeing the building of soundwalls, installation of sewers, implementing the Downtown Village Specific Plan, and advocating joint-use projects with the LCUSD. He also served as a member of the Arroyo Verdugo Steering Committee, was on the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. He served on the Pasadena City College Bond Oversight Committee as vice chair from 2004-06, and as chair from 2006-08. He has also consistently championed the revitalization and restoration of the city’s trail system.

Some of the milestone accomplishments under Brown’s tenure as mayor included: the unanimously approved Town Center project, with virtually no opposition; the groundbreaking for Olberz Park, which was gifted and dedicated to the City of La Cañada Flintridge; and the opening of the trail crossing over the 210 Freeway at Indiana Avenue, which completed the long dreamed-for trail loop around the city.

Prior to his serving on the LCF City Council, Brown held numerous leadership roles and was on the City’s Planning Commission from 2001-03. He also led a project that added lights to existing fields, thus extending the usable hours for recreational facilities, and worked diligently towards the creation of the City’s skate park. He served on the La Cañada Flintridge Mayor’s Trails Committee as vice chairman, helping to create strategy to enhance and protect the trail system.  

As a member of the La Cañada Flintridge Mayor’s Discovery Park Planning Committee from 1999-03, he was instrumental in the acquisition and design of a new City park and led the negotiation and implementation of the joint use agreement for the use of the adjoining baseball diamond.

With an enthusiastic pulse on the community, Brown currently lends his leadership skills by serving on the board of directors for the following organizations: Kiwanis Club of La Cañada, Lanterman House/Lanterman Historical Museum Foundation, La Cañada Flintridge Trails Council, La Cañada Flintridge Sister Cities Association (and Leadership Team), and La Cañada Flintridge Coordinating Council. He is also vice president-administration of the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association.

Past affiliations include serving as a La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation, board member, and assisting the La Cañada High School Music Parents Association by holding various positions, including president.

A graduate of George Washington University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree (Phi Beta Kappa), Brown received his Juris Doctor degree in 1976 from the UCLA School of Law.

In 1980, Brown co-founded the law firm Bright & Brown, which currently operates with nine lawyers. He left his namesake law firm in 1996 to join the management of one of his clients, serving as general counsel, corporate secretary and chief administrative officer to a multibillion-dollar energy company with more than 800 employees and operations in 13 states. Under his auspices, BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. was named “Legal Department of the Year” by the National Law Journal in 2015.

Brown and his wife Joyce have enjoyed living in La Cañada Flintridge since 1977. Joyce graduated from Brigham Young University (summa cum laude) with a degree in mathematics; subsequently she earned her master’s degree in marriage, family and child counseling. She is a retired junior high school mathematics teacher, math tutor and volunteer high school religion teacher. Their daughter, Melanie, was born in 1980, attended LCF schools and graduated from La Cañada High School in 1998. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Columbia University School of Law. Currently, Melanie is preparing to spend a year in London, England to earn her master’s degree in library science.

The family has been active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Cañada Flintridge where Greg and Joyce have worked extensively with congregants of all ages. Brown has held numerous leadership positions, most recently serving for the past seven years as Bishop (equivalent to minister or parish priest) to a congregation in Glendale.

Members of the public are invited to attend the luncheon celebration. Tickets are $30 per person, and may be purchased by going to lacanadakiwanis.org and clicking on the “La Cañadan of the Year” tab. Tickets may also be purchased by mailing a check to: Kiwanis Club of La Cañada – “La Cañadan of the Year,” P.O. Box 33, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91012. Be sure to include name, email, contact phone and the name of any guest(s). Deadline to reserve tickets is Aug. 16. For additional information, call (818) 495-5141 and leave a message, or email lacanadakiwanis@gmail.com for a response by a club member. The ceremony will be conducted following COVID-19 guidelines in effect by Los Angeles County.

Submitted by Alice PEREZ