Jack Wyatt, first row second from left, is flanked by representatives from the offices of state Sen. Richard Roth, U.S. Congressman Ken Calvert and Assememblyman Eric Linder, who also honored him with proclamations. Second row, from left, Riverside County Supervisors Kevin Jeffries, John Benoit, John Tavaglione, Jeff Stone and Marion Ashley.

BY JANNLEE WATSON
WeAreTV.org Webmaster

“Humble” and “gracious” usually are not words associated with a corporate executive, a military leader or your next-door-neighbor. How fortunate we are in Temescal Valley that our friend Jack Wyatt is “A man for all seasons.”

About 60 of us gathered in Riverside on Feb. 4 — not all from Temescal Valley, but those who know Jack, respect Jack, and wanted to be there when the Riverside County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation to recognize his 30 years of service to the county and to the Greater Inland Empire.

Jack and Irene — who live in Trilogy — have been married for 38 years, (and always behind a successful man there is a more successful woman)!  Jack is the first to say that Irene has been an inspiration in all facets of his professional and personal life.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jack for the past year. We united to fend off Corona’s attempt to annex a portion of our beloved Temescal Valley. And, with Jack’s expert guidance, knowlege and persistency — we were successful.

Here are a few things you may not know about Jack:

• He served in the U.S. Navy and was shot down and rescued in Vietnam. Staying in the Navy Reserve, he turned down the rank of Rear Admiral.
• With Southern California Edison for 28 years,  Jack retired in 1998 as Region Director for the Inland Empire, where he was responsible for three counties, 56 cities and an annual revenue base of $3.5 billion.
• Jack is the Trustee Chair for the only remaining all boys military high school on the west coast – Army & Navy Academy in Carlsbad — it’s where he graduated high school. (Learn more about the academy and read a message from Jack HERE.)
• Jack serves on the Board of Premier Service Bank in Riverside/Corona.
• Jack was president of Residents for Temescal Valley, leading the effort that ultimately defeated Corona’s annexation attempt.
• Jack stopped Corona from an ill-conceived plan to provide electric service to its residents.
• Jack is Secretary for his church board – New Hope Family Worship Center in Corona.

And, appropriately, it was New Hope pastor Dave Tanner who provided the invocation at the supervisor’s meeting. I have always been impressed with Jack’s belief in God — a true believer, he lives his life accordingly and doesn’t preach. Although he and Irene do instruct classes at the church.

Jack also exemplifies “love of family” and “family comes first.” It’s amazing how much he has accomplished for all of us living in Riverside County while putting his family first. A man of prominence, importance, expertise and ability chooses to include in his personal resume:

“Irene Wyatt is Jack’s wife of 38 years, and provides the humor and patience in his
life…his son Mike and daughter Shauna provide the rest of the excitement. Mike
is the Marketing Director for a security firm and has three magnificent kids
that look more like his beautiful wife (thank goodness); and Shauna works for Johnson
& Johnson pharmaceuticals and keeps her 6 foot 8 husband from challenging
Jack on the golf course…Shauna is only 5 foot 8, but has her dad wrapped around
her finger.”

And, that’s what Jack is about. He is himself, he is his family and he is his community.

Maybe I have an affinity with Jack. My dad — a 30-year Marine Corps officer — always preached to me , “Lead by example.” Jack Wyatt does this — and much more.
Read proclamation HERE