The late Cal Worthington will be posthumously named the 2014 City National Bank Entrepreneur of the Year, the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce announced last week.
Known for his savvy marketing and clever use of television ads, Worthington started selling cars at his first dealership in Huntington Park and at one point owned 29 dealerships that spanned from Alaska to Arizona, including Worthington Ford in Long Beach. In addition to his three dealerships, he also owned three shopping centers and an office complex which grossed some $600M annually. He died of natural causes September 9, 2013 at his ranch in Northern California. He was 92.
“Cal was a fixture on Southern California television, and became famous for his ads with a menagerie of live animals–but never a dog–all of whom he called ‘My dog Spot!,'” said Randy Gordon, President/CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “Worthington Ford is a Long Beach success story that continues today. Cal had the vision, the business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit to grow his dealership as it has thrived for many decades.”
Worthington will be honored at the Chamber’s annual Entrepreneur of the Year Luncheon where the keynote speaker will be Jim Haney, Senior Vice President & Regional Manager, Commercial Banking Services, City National Bank.
The Chamber’s City National Bank Entrepreneur of the Year Luncheon will take place Thursday, April 3 at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. For more information, visit lbchamber.chambermaster.com
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