 Tom Lemm was born in Syracuse, New York in February 1944, the third of five children, with two older brothers and two younger sisters. He spent his youth in and around the Syracuse area before the family moved to North El Monte, CA in 1959. His high school years were spent in North El Monte where he attended Arroyo High School. He attended Pasadena City College, Chaffey College and Mt. San Antonio Junior College, later transferring to Cal State University Dominquez Hills where he obtained his Master of Science in Administration in 1980. He worked for Southern California Edison Co. for over 34 years, retiring on December 31, 1996 at the age of fifty-two. He then began working as a consultant in the real estate acquisition profession for local governments and public agencies. He continues to work part-time in his 49-year career-field because he truly enjoys the challenge of project work.
Tom joined Huntington Beach Elks Lodge #1959 on November 16, 1995 and became the Americanism Chairman for Exalted Ruler Boomer Steeman in April of 1996. He served in that capacity for three years and became the Fifth Year Trustee in early 1998. He progressed through the Trustee chairs and became Chairman of the Board in 2001-2002. He was elected Esteemed Leading Knight In 2002-2003, again serving Boomer Steeman in his second term as Exalted Ruler. Tom was elected to be Exalted Ruler of Huntington Beach Lodge effective April 1, 2003. He served as Lodge Treasurer for three years and continues to serve as the National Foundation Chairman (ENF) in his sixth year.
Tom and Valarie continue to be pleased with the success of the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner held at their lodge each year for Elks and their guests, as well as the Puerto Rican Dinner presented each October during ENF Month promoting the National Foundation. He was also successful in obtaining a booth for the lodge at the Orange International Street Fair and continues to support community awareness.
He was awarded the honor of being Elk of the Year at Huntington Beach Lodge in 2005-2006 and is an Honorary Founder of the Elks National Foundation.
During the years following his term as Exalted Ruler, Tom served the Orange Coast District as Scholarship Chairman for two years, Membership Chairman for two years, Manpower Room co-chair for the 2008 Anaheim Convention, ,and Americanism Chairman, each for one year.
He was Esquire to Past District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Dave Bakke in the year 2007-2008 was the California-Hawaii Elks Association Vice-President representing the Orange Coast District in 2009-2010. In May of 2010 he was named as the Co-Chairman of the 2013 CHEA Convention in Anaheim and in January of 2011 was promoted to the position of Chairman.
Tom and Valarie reside in Huntington Beach and have been married for almost 10 years. Tom has two grown children, Rick and Lori, and Valarie has a grown daughter, Ashley, who is a five-year Member of Huntington Beach #1959). Together they have three grown grandchildren, Lacey, Nick and Zach.
On July 21, 2011 at the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Grand Lodge Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, Tom will be installed as District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler representing the Orange Coast District for Endorsed Candidate (for Grand Exalted Ruler) David Carr. |
