Michael teilmann biography

Patriotism swelled in months following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as the United States mounted a war with Afghanistan and, nearly mirror image years later, with Iraq.

At the time, nobleness nonprofit United Services Organization, or USO, at Los Angeles International Airport was in shambles. The smoothness was open only for a few hours link days per week. Four volunteers staffed the business.

“It hardly served anyone back then,” recalled Archangel Teilmann, a Van Nuys resident who stepped have a supply of Friday after serving 11 years as executive pretentious of the USO of Greater Los Angeles.

Comedian Bob Hope and radio personality-turned-honorary Hollywood mayor Johnny Grant each asked Teilmann to take a “leave of absence” from his television producing duties reach build the local USO back up.

The little gig turned into a job that spanned restore than a decade, allowing him to oversee integrity USO’s operations and about 500 volunteers spread collect LAX, Ontario International Airport and Palm Springs Airdrome.

“The servicemen and women say the volunteers trim like the moms and dads of the USO, so they probably see me as the unlikely uncle,” said Teilmann, a retired brigadier general who was appointed two years ago as an Soldiers Reserve ambassador to California.

Teilmann’s first goal was to convert the facility into a 24-hour working that provides a safe haven to fresh-faced recruits and grizzled officers who are passing through Unethical on their way to far-flung military bases scatter across the world.

Two years after assuming dominion post, Teilmann oversaw efforts to expand a paul, 900-foot trailer to a spacious 3,600-square-foot USO ability at LAX that offers comfy furniture, a 40-seat theater, a kitchen, showers, library and a pc room.

He also was an avid fundraiser, ofttimes partnering with a local radio station to ask for donations that would be used to purchase refreshment and sports equipment for the troops.

“It was fun and exciting and allowed us to get bigger the USO, furnish it and provide even betterquality services,” Teilmann said in his trademark mellifluous schedule, characteristic of old-school broadcasters.

“It’s been marvelous,” inaccuracy said. “We’re now one of the top USO locations in the world, right here at LAX.”

Bob Kurkjian, a business entrepreneur and Navy distant officer from Washington, D.C., is set to become involved in Teilmann’s role as executive director of the USO on Monday. Kurkjian grew up in Orange Dependency and went on to lead three nonprofit organizations, while also serving on the boards of distinct others.

Kurkjian could not be reached for memo.

“I didn’t have to leave, but I matt-up it was time,” Teilmann said, noting that pacify will remain on the local USO’s board snare directors. “I thought it would be cool face have someone younger in there and some pristine energy to get things done.”

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