March 15, 2018

The Herbert G. Klein Memorial LEADership Award is presented annually to a member of LEAD’s Impact class who has made significant leadership contributions to our community and has demonstrated the potential to effect further change upon graduation from the program.

2024 HGK Honoree

Adrienne Wilkerson

Director of Communications, Episcopal Community Services

About Herbert G. Klein

Herbert G. Klein (1918-2009) was the retired Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Copley Newspapers, and a national fellow of the American Enterprise Institute of Washington, D.C., a syndicated columnist and a public relations consultant. He enjoyed a unique career as a newspaperman, broadcast official, media consultant, a senior leader in the White House, and participated in five presidential campaigns. Published by Doubleday, his book Making It Perfectly Clear is acclaimed by critics for its hard-hitting definitive look at the love-hate relationship between the media and the presidents.

In California, Mr. Klein participated in numerous civic activities, ranging from Junior Chamber presidency in Alhambra to directorship in San Diego’s major community organizations. He served on the boards of directors of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, Scripps Health Foundation, and the Foundation for the Children of the Californias.

Mr. Klein championed bringing major league sports to San Diego as a co-founder of San Diego’s Super Bowl Task Force and served on the boards of several athletic organizations, including the San Diego International Sports Council, San Diego National Sports Training Foundation, and the UC San Diego Athletic Board. In addition to board membership, he was past President and chairman of the Holiday Bowl year-end football game in San Diego. Mr. Klein was an honorary member of the Alhambra and San Diego Rotary clubs, a Kiwanis “fellow” and a Kiwanian in San Diego, and a member of San Diego’s University Club.