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CAPTAIN LELAND F. NORTON
A native son of San Bernardino, Captain Leland F. Norton
joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941 after attending San Bernardino
Valley College. A year later, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps, writing
home that he now wore "USA on my sleeve."
At age 23, Norton was in England with the 640th Bomb
Squadron flying missions over enemy-occupied France. While on his 16th mission,
his bomber, part of a 38-aircraft formation, was hit by antiaircraft fire.
Captain Norton stayed at the controls of his A-20 aircraft until his crew had
all safely bailed out; but by then, it was too late for him.
For his heroic actions, Captain Norton was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), the highest Air Force Award, the Purple Heart,
and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, which are all on display at the
Stater Bros. Corporate Offices. In 1950, the Air Force renamed San Bernardino
Air Depot to Norton Air Force Base. In 2007, Stater Bros. opened its new
Corporate Offices and Norton Distribution Center on the site of the former
Norton Air Force Base.
Captain Norton represented duty to country, to community
and to family. His legacy and contributions will continue to be remembered and
embodied by the recipients of this award in his honor.
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BRIGADIER GENERAL HERMAN S.
CLARDY, III
In June 2001, Brigadier
General Clardy was transferred to Twentynine Palms, California and assumed
command of 3d light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. He traveled throughout the
World continually promoted in various ranks until most recently appointed as
Brigadier General for Twentynine Palms where his current assignments include
Commanding General, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps
Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. Brigadier General
Clardy's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (with a Gold Star and
Combat Distinguishing Device), Bronze Star (with the Combat Distinguishing
Device), Meritorious Service Medal (with two Gold Stars), Navy-Marine Corps
Commendation Medal (with two Gold Stars), Combat Action Ribbon, and Presidential
Unit Citation. Stater Bros. Charities recognizes Brigadier General Clardy for
his commitment to his country and ensuring the safety of its constituency.
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MARTHA GREEN
Cooking guru, entrepreneur and auctioneer extraordinaire, Martha Green
has been shaking it up in the Inland Empire for over 30 years-raising more than
$2 million for a variety of local charities. Martha grew up in Greenville, S.C.
and has owned cooking schools and kitchen stores in Redlands, Las Vegas, and San
Bernardino. In 1974 she began teaching microwave cooking classes in the back of
her husband's mattress store in San Bernardino. In 1978 she opened a cooking
equipment store in Redlands and expanded her classes to include all forms of
food preparation. Acclaimed for her wit and cooking wizardry, Martha now simmers
and stews before audiences at an estimated 30 fundraising cooking classes
annually. For the past 27 years, she has hosted the annual Bonnes Meres auction
benefiting the Children's Fund. Martha is the owner of Dough' Lectibles and The
Eating Room- a bakery and adjacent restaurant in Downtown Redlands. She is the
author of Martha Green's Cooking Things and fills out her busy schedule working
as a Realtor. In her spare time, Green hosted a radio cooking show on KVCR 91.9
FM which aired weekdays at 8:33 a.m. and 4:32 p.m. Currently, Martha is working
on her new television show, "Martha Green's Cooking Things." Stay tuned!
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LINDA RICE AND JO ANN MINEER
Linda Rice (pictured on the far left) and
Jo Ann Mineer and have been Co-Presidents of Claremont/West End Auxiliary of
Children's Fund for two years. Under their leadership, the group has increased
in membership, expanded the fundraising dollars significantly, and worked
together with all members of the Auxiliary to serve the at-risk children who
live in the Inland Empire. Jo Ann retired as the owner and travel agent of
Diamond Bar Travel. She now assists and supports her husband in their business,
Don Mineer Drilling Company. She has been a tireless volunteer as a past Board
Member of the David and Margaret Girls' Home, member of Children's Home Society,
as well as chairing fundraising events for local youth, school sports teams, and
church groups. Linda is retired from Ontario-Montclair School District as a
school Principle. She is presently employed by San Bernardino County Schools as
an Administrative Coach. She and her husband are Directors of Pathway/Africa, a
non-profit organization to provide educational, medical and community
development in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Linda, her husband
and children lived and worked in Kenya for six years. They lead yearly safaris
to Africa to interested people in order to introduce them to African culture and
challenge them to become involved in changing an African student's life.
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SHERIFF STANLEY L. SNIFF,
JR.
Stanley Sniff, Jr. was appointed as the 13th Sheriff of Riverside County
by the Board of Supervisors. He is third Sheriff to also serve as
"Coroner-Public Administrator." The Riverside County Sheriff's Department was
created in 1893 and is the second largest Sheriff's Department in California
with 4,600 full-time staff and 1,500 volunteers that oversee countywide patrol
operations, jail operations, court security and coroner investigations. Sheriff
Sniff has nearly 34 years of law enforcement experience and is the eldest
grandson of one of the pioneering date and citrus families of the Coachella
Valley. He joined the Coachella Police Department in 1975 after graduation from
the San Bernardino Sheriff's Academy. His initial expertise was in traffic
enforcement and accident investigation and he was instrumental in creating the
department's very first specialized traffic safety programs. A retired colonel
in the Army Reserve, Stanley Sniff was commissioned as a Armor officer out of
the OCS program in 1973 at the U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA. He
served 30 years in a variety of military staff and command assignments in
infantry, armor and cavalry units.
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