WHEREAS, William E. Leonard is deserving of special public commendation in recognition of his exemplary career and many civic achievements as a citizen of California’s Inland Empire; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Leonard received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Leonard served his country during World War II in the Philippines and Japan with the First and Seventh Cavalry Divisions, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Leonard’s productive career includes founding and operating the Leonard Realty and Building Company since 1946, as well as developing, owning, and operating various city auto parks, apartment complexes, land subdivisions, and the San Bernardino public golf course; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Leonard has been a member and chairman of both the California Highway Commission (1973–1977) and the California Transportation Commission (1985–93), a member of the State Athletic Commission, and a member of the University of California at Riverside Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Leonard also has served his community and state as a member and chairman of the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation; a trustee of the St. Bernadine’s Hospital Foundation; a member and past chairman of the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation; a member of the board of the Water Commission of the City of San Bernardino; a member and past director of the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce; a member and past director of the San Bernardino Valley Board of Realtors; a past director, president, and chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Orange Show; a founding member and president of Inland Action; a member and president of the San Bernardino Host Lions; a member of the Bank of America Inland Division Advisory Board; a member and past chairman of the Security Pacific Bank Inland Division Advisory Board; and a member, treasurer, and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino; and

WHEREAS, This exceptional community leader recently was honored by the Valley Group with its Excellence in Infrastructure Award; by the East Inland Empire Association of Realtors with its President’s Exceptional Service Award; by the Boy Scouts of America’s California Inland Empire Council with its Distinguished Citizen’s Award; and by the Historical and Pioneer Society with its Citizen of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, As a result of his tireless hard work and unwavering commitment to the State of California and to his local community in San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire, William E. Leonard has succeeded in compiling an impressive record of personal and civic achievement, a record that has earned for him the admiration and respect of those persons who have had the privilege of associating with him; and

WHEREAS, It is proper and fitting that William E. Leonard be honored on his exemplary career as well as his constant record of leadership on state transportation issues, especially his long-term support for the construction of the Foothill Freeway, by naming the freeway interchange now under construction at the juncture of Interstate Highway Route 15 and State Highway Route 210 in the County of San Bernardino the William E. Leonard Interchange; now, therefore, be it