Eldon Jacobs (2011 Photo)
The Volunteer of the year for 1996 is Eldon Jacobs. Eldon Jacobs was one of the first home owners in Mira Mesa, moving into his house in 1970. A Navy veteran, Eldon retired after 25 years in which he served during World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. During his time in the Navy he was a pilot, becoming so proficient he was chosen to become a test pilot at PAX River. During World War II, he flew over 1,200 hours in combat missions and in Korea, well over 3,000 hours. He is proud to say he flew just about every aircraft the Navy had to offer in the late 1940’s, 1950’s and well into the early 1960’s. In the 1960’s he transitioned to flying helicopters in support of naval activities off the coast of Vietnam.
After he retired, he spent a short period of time in business owning a company that leased out aircraft to the general public. He personally flew aircraft to the former NAS Miramar Field auxiliary field named Hourglass Field where he performed “touch and goes”. This auxiliary field would later become Mira Mesa’s second Community Park – Hourglass Field Community Park.
He received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern State College in Oklahoma. Once in Mira Mesa, he continued his education at USIU University and received Doctorates in Education (Leadership) and in Psychology of Human Behavior (Juvenile Behavior).
He made great use of his new degrees and help set up Abraxis, an alternative Poway high school for disadvantaged students. Eldon served as Administrator for eighteen years. The school is still open today and shown as a model of a continuation high school across the country.
In 1994 the communities of Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch formed the second Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP) in the city of San Diego. Eldon volunteered to serve on the RSVP and was in the first class of trained volunteers. After training was completed, he was selected as the first Administrator of the Scripps/Mesa RSVP. As the Administrator he spent many hours working with the Police Department, recruiting new members, running daily patrols and setting the example of volunteerism for this new organization. The Community was truly blessed to have a man of Eldon Jacobs’ background and service as its first RSVP Administrator from 1994 – 2000. In thanks for his service to the country and our community he was selected “Volunteer of the Year” by the Mira Mesa Town Council in 1996.