By Eliza PARTIKA

Former Crescenta Valley Town Council president and local civic activist Harry Leon was presented with the prestigious Burtis E. Taylor Community Award at the Glendale Unified School District board of education meeting and educator awards ceremony on May 12. Leon was joined by other educators who were honored for their dedication and service to the school district by the board of education.

Leon is known for his service throughout Glendale and La Crescenta, as the former CVTC president and board member since 2010, and the owner of a local plumbing firm. Leon and his wife have been staples in the community since 2003 when they first moved to La Crescenta.

Board member Kathleen Cross celebrated Leon’s history of advocacy and volunteering. 

“His advocacy has been focused on youth empowerment and traffic safety around our schools,” she said. “Harry is routinely seen volunteering at The Grill, flipping pancakes (which I’ve seen him do a number of times) or barbecuing to support Crescenta Valley High School’s Prom Plus, CV Cares, the Fire House [youth center] and other student-centered causes in the community.”

“It’s a great honor and pleasure; thank you very much,” Leon said when accepting the award. “You guys deserve this more than I do. And the teachers – with you, our kids are doing so good, so much better than we can even imagine. I always say, ‘Here comes trouble.’ Without trouble, you know what? There is no goodness.”

Others honored at the ceremony included classified and certificated staff, retiring teachers and teachers who have served the District for more than 20 years.