Edison Ralph Lara

October 23, 1930 - March 5, 2022

Edison Ralph Lara, Sr. was born on October 23, 1930, in San Antonio, Texas to William Arthur and Annie Bell Lara. Edison was the eldest child of seven children followed by, Harold Travis, Althea Faye, Lamar, Chester Ray, Terrell Gonzales, and Martha Bell. Edison was blessed to be part of a blended family his eldest siblings were Ura Lara and Ruth Ella Lara-Franklin. Edison grew up on the westside of San Antonio. He was loved and admired by his family and friends. He was known to be a bright and exceptional student with a magnetic personality and smile. He graduated from Grant Elementary, Dunbar Jr. High, and Phillis Wheatley Sr. High School. Even as a child he showed dedication to family. He helped his Mom with his younger siblings. Due to her ongoing illness, he would run errands for her, such as doing the laundry and going to the grocery store. Under her watchful eye, he would also bathe his younger two siblings; comb and plait Althea’s hair. This was the underpinning of his character; the launching of his duty to, and enduring love for family. Edison gave his life to Christ at a young age. He joined St. Phillips Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas, and was actively involved in the Usher Board, Men’s Day programs, and fundraising projects. After moving to Los Angeles, California, he joined St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church and Day School and was affectionally called “Mr. St. Tim’s”. Ed made an enormous impact throughout the years serving on the Building Program, Vestry Board of Directors, St. Timothy’s Day School Board, Financial Board, and Fundraising Board. As Sr. Warden and Chairman of the Building Program, under Ed’s direction an $11 million restoration operation for St. Timothy’s Tower Manor, Inc. was a success. As a longstanding member of the Vestry Board of Directors, he guided the Church to financial soundness and established a blueprint that continues today. Ed initiated a Financial Board for St. Timothy’s Church and Day School and was the Chairman. The system continues to be utilized. He spearheaded and chaired a Fundraising Board to provide various income streams to the Church that is still in effect. After retirement from Westside Distributors, Ed continued to be a valued philanthropist. One organization that remained dear to his heart was St. Timothy’s Church and Day School, which was the beneficiary of a fundraiser held to honor him on his 80th birthday. He received a commendation letter from President Barack Obama, along with recognition and awards too numerous to mention. Ed’s dedication to his Christian faith never wavered, he continued to be an active member at St, Timothy’s Church and Day School. He remained a faithful servant until his death. After high school Edison joined the Navy. His Commander was so impressed with the stellar assignments he performed that he was offered an opportunity to attend Annapolis Naval Academy. Duty to family took precedence and he turned down the offer, returned home to help care for his Mom. He started to work at the Pearl Brewery Company with his father in the boiler room. Determined to excel he attended night school as well. Soon after, he was offered a position in the Sales Department and became well-known as “Larry”. He worked hard and had a knack for enjoying life. He enjoyed golf in San Antonio and later at the Chester Washington Golf Course in Los Angeles, California. He absolutely enjoyed playing dominoes and shooting pool with family and friends (and he was good). He sharpened his business acumen, and this is where hard work laid the foundation for opportunity and ultimately his American dream. He was offered a promotion from Sales Representative to District Sales Manager by a division of the company (Country Club Malt Liquor). He accepted the position, which lead to him, Genevieve, Valencia, and Ralph relocating to Southern California in 1968. After proving himself, he was offered a position as a Regional Manager of the Western United States including Alaska and Hawaii. Their third child, Alysanne, was born in 1971. Edison became known as “Ed” to his friends and in business; he would take his family with him on a remarkable life journey. On April 1, 1974, once again fate would meet opportunity with perseverance being at the helm. Ed Lara, Sr., President of Westside Distributors and wholesaler of Anheuser-Busch, Inc. products opened the doors of his distributorship, along with his wife, Genevieve and partner Alvis W. Parrish, III. At the time the company was purchased, there were twenty employees, a fleet of eight delivery trucks and two merchandising vans, and a 16,000 square foot warehouse. After many successful years and outgrowing their current facility, on May 13, 1983, Westside Distributors moved to a 100,000 square foot newly constructed facility in the city of South Gate, California. It had the latest technology in controlled environmental warehousing. The company grew to more than 70 employees and a fleet of over 60 vehicles. Ed attributed his success and the success of the company to “hard work and personal attention”. In addition, that same year, Ed was elected chairman of Anheuser-Busch’s Wholesaler Advisory Panel and also assumed the presidency of the California Beer Wholesalers Association, which represented the interest of over 950 independent Anheuser-Busch Wholesalers around the country. Westside Distributors became a family business for 27 years, known as a strong, positive force in the Los Angeles Community. Ed and Westside Distributors was often recognized for support of local community programs. Westside Distributors ranked among the top 10% of the Anheuser-Busch wholesaler family in the United States. The company also ranked number 42 among the top 100 Black businesses in the country. Westside Distributors was featured in major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, Ebony, Dollars and Sense, and Black Enterprise. Ed Lara became known as a strong, positive force in the Los Angeles Community. The same passion, commitment, and dedication he brought to Westside Distributors is what he gave to serving in the community. Some of the many organizations that benefited from the contributions provided over the decades were: The United Negro College Fund, University of Southern California Black Alumni Association, University of Southern California Mexican American Alumni Association, Charles R. Drew Post Graduate Medical School, Ebonics Support Group; Bret Harte Preparatory Intermediate School, Martin Luther King-Kingdom Day Parade, Martin Luther King Awards, Challengers Boys and Girls Club, Minnie Riperton 5K-10K Family Run for Cancer Research, Promenade of Prominence “Walk of Fame”, Muscular Dystrophy Association, California Afro-American Museum, Watts Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club, Magic Johnson Mid-Summers Nights Dinner Youth on Parade, Black History Essay Contest, Tribute to Black Fathers, Inglewood’s Foundation for Excellence in Education, Latino Parents Association, and many other programs benefited from his support. Community golf tournaments were sponsored, such as Firefighters Memorial Golf, James Rosner Golf, Lou Rawls Golf Classic, Verbum Dei Golf Tournaments, Mayme Clayton Michelob Golf Classic, The Swingers’ Golf Club, and the Masters Golf Program (which benefited the Junior Golf Program), and many other golf tournaments. In 1981, Ed received the UNCF’s Mind Fire Award for his chairmanship of the “Lou Rawls Parade of Stars” in the Los Angeles Area. The television special raised over $1.6 million for UNCF. He received the “Good Scout Award” from the Los Angeles Council Boy Scouts of America. In 1988, Ed was selected the most outstanding black businessman in the nation by 100 Black Men of America. He was a Member of the Black Business Association, YMCA, California State University Advisory Board, UNCF Leadership Council, and the Los Angeles Urban League. Particularly committed to helping young people in the community, he provided the opportunity for his wife and his oldest daughter to produce and direct the Miss Black America Beauty Pageant in 1977 and 1978. He served as one of the original Board of Directors of Involvement for Young Achievers, Inc. (a non-profit organization), spearheaded by Gen to assist inner-city students with life skills. Ed gave his time and resources and assisted needy youngsters, worthwhile programs, and the improvement of the conditions in the community. He truly believed people who need people are the luckiest people in the world. There have been many people over the decades who have said many times that he had always been there when they needed him. He was committed to putting something back into the community where he served. Before marrying Genevieve, Edison had two children, Cecelia Elaine Lara and Sandra Kay Wilson. Ed and Gen were married on December 21, 1963, to that union, three children were born, Valencia Ann Lara-Smith, Edison Ralph Lara, Jr., and Alysanne Lara Zavala. Three grandchildren Cassie (David) Applegate, Julian Alexander Zavala, and Jeovanni Aidan Zavala. In addition to cherishing his memory are his sister, Dr. Althea Faye Choates, Ed.D.; aunt, Mrs. Elsie Shaw; and a host of other beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and classmates of Phillis Wheatley Class of 1948. On March 5, 2022, Edison Ralph Lara, Sr. was called home to be with the Lord. He has left a void that cannot be filled. Ed to his friends, was a special kind of human being, a true humanitarian, a child of God. He did not find contentment by merely living in the house by the side of the road and being a friend to man, but rather in walking along with the crowd in the road. He was too busy to live in the house by the way but sang praises to the Master of all whom he felt helped him to serve in the road instead. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Advocates Foundation. https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1647653476173483 Event ID: Greenhills Password: UYMMXL