Officers
A message from our President, Eddie Preciado… “Thank you for visiting our website to lean more about our organization. I am fortunate to have the great honor to serve as the President of The Boys of Belvedere. We have a remarkable group of dedicated Officers and Board Members and it is a true delight working with them. Many of us grew up together in the East Los Angeles area and, as a dedicated group, we rise up to any challenges that may come our way. We invite you to join us in our fundraising efforts as we continue to work towards fulfilling our ever-present goals of supporting Veterans and their families, the community, and providing college scholarship grants to high school students.” - Eddie Preciado, President - Boys of BelvedereOfficers
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Eddie Preciado (President)
Boys of Belvedere President, Eddie Preciado, is a home-grown leader.
Born in East Los Angeles, he is also the Founder and President of the
Montebello Challenger Baseball Program for the Developmentally
Disabled. He is currently the Montebello Golf Commissioner, previously
serving as the City of Montebello's Parks and Recreation Commissioner for
twelve years, from 1991 to 2003.
In 1991, the City of Montebello awarded him as "Resident of the Year."
Eddie also was active with mentoring youths as the Head Softball Coach
of Montebello High School, from 1991 to 1996.
Before his philanthropic work, he had worked as a Sales Representative in
the Meat Industry, retiring after 39 years. He served with distinction in
the United States Marine Corp, seeing combat in the Vietnam War from
1966 to 1968. For his valor, he received a Combat Action Ribbon (CAR),
Presidential Unit Citation for "extraordinary heroism against an armed
enemy" in extremely difficult and hazardous conditions, and Navy
Commendation Medal.
After graduating from Garfield High School, he attended East Los Angeles
College and Rio Hondo College. Eddie has been happily married to his
wife for 39 years, raising two daughters together. In his spare time he
enjoys playing golf.
Jerry Gandara (Vice President)
Jerry Gandara currently serves with the Disabled Americans Chapter 22
in Alhambra, California. From 1966 to 1970, he served in the U.S. Air
Force as a security policeman, sentry dog handler, and a K-9 instructor.
He also served in several stateside locations, as well as Temporary Duty
(TDY) in Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and other Asian locales.
After being discharged, he worked for the City of Los Angeles as a
truck-crane operator for a year, before joining the union, Local 12.
There, he worked as a truck-crane operator/engineer for thirty-five
years before retiring recently. He graduated from Garfield High School
in Spring of 1965. Jerry has two daughters and a son. He loves riding
Harley Davidson motorcycles in his spare time.
Danny D. Durand (Treasurer)
Danny D. Durand graduated from Garfield High School, Class of ‘66. He
also attended Robert Hill Lane Elementary School and David Wark
Griffith Junior High School. Danny enlisted in the Army and went to
Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cav (Black Horse Division). Upon leaving
the service, he became an electrician and has been self-employed
running a successful business for 34 years. He is married to Phyllis
Durand for 35 years and they have four sons and ten grandchildren. He
belongs to American Legion Post 41 in Phoenix, AZ and the Garfield
Alumni Association.
Ernie Ayala (Secretary)
Ernie Ayala is currently serving as Secretary for the Boys of Belvedere.
He brings a wealth of experience, including having served as President
for the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce (2 terms), Kiwanis Club of
Rosemead, and Greater Pasadena National Assn. of Insurance and
Financial Agents. He was also the Lt. Governor of the West San Gabriel
Valley Kiwanis. In his earlier journalism career, he was a writer for CBS
Radio, researcher for the NBC TV program "Chicano with Sal Lopez," staff
member at KCBS-TV Broadcast Operations, and News Anchor/Field
Reporter for Theta Cable TV News.
Educational work included five and a half years working as a teacher,
counselor, and public relations manager with the Los Angeles Unified
School District's "Skills and Occupational Centers." Ernie worked 26 years
as an agent for Allstate Insurance Company, before retiring at the end of
2008. However, he continued to work as a sales producer with various
agents in the San Gabriel Valley.
He is a United States Army veteran, having served a tour in the Vietnam
War as a Military Police Dog Handler. During his deployment, he survived
the Tet Offensive. Later he worked as a Military Police Provost Marshal
Investigator at Madigan General Hospital, eventually becoming a Desk
Sergeant. In college, he earned four degrees: a Masters and Bachelors in
Broadcasting from Columbia College, Bachelor of Arts in Communications
from the University of La Verne, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Vocational
Education from UCLA.
Ernie graduated from Garfield High School of East Los Angeles in the Winter of 1963, having served as a three-year
Varsity Football Letterman, Football Co-captain, 1st Team All-Eastern League Team in 1962, and Class Vice-President in
1963. While growing up, he attended Robert Hill Lane Elementary and Griffith Jr. High in Los Angeles County. He is
currently married to Fran Alonzo Ayala, his wife of five years and counting.
Andy Walters (Scholarship Ambassador)
Andy Walters brings experience to the Boys of Belvedere, also
serving as the Adjutant for the 22nd Chapter of the Disabled
Americans Veterans organization in Alhambra, California. He
describes himself as a "veteran helping veterans." He worked for the
Lockheed Aircraft Company for 33 years, before retiring in June
2002. While at Lockheed he served in various roles, eventually
working his way up to Procurement Administrator for commercial
and military fighter aircraft.
While he worked for the company, he also continued his education.
In 1974, he received an Associate of Arts Degree from East Los
Angeles College, then a certificate in Purchasing Management from
UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). He also attended Cal
State Los Angeles.
Before working for Lockheed, he served a decorated career in the
United States Navy. By the time he was honorably discharged from
the service, he had earned the National Defense Service Medal,
Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (in Korea). As Supply Chief Petty
Officer on the USS Decatur, a guided-missile destroyer, he
maintained a 45-inch cannon's round and powder kegs, in addition to
procuring the ship's maintenance, cleaning, and paint equipment.
The USS Decatur provided support to the aircraft carrier USS
Hancock during air strikes, in addition to supporting ground troops on
the Vietnam coast. The USS Decatur is known for being part of an
expedition to rescue the USS Pueblo from North Korea. The now-famous USS Pueblo was a spy ship that had been
boarded by North Korean forces with its crew taken hostage and tortured.
Andy was originally born in New Mexico to a carpenter father (a New Mexico native) and seamstress mother. The
family moved to Texas, eventually finding themselves stepping off a Greyhound bus in Los Angeles. He graduated
from Garfield High School in 1965. He and his wife Barbara had a daughter together, and also raised Barbara's son
from a previous marriage.
Alex Ochoa (Sergeant-at-Arms)
Alex Ochoa almost got a chance at becoming a professional baseball
player, when he was called by the Los Angeles Dodgers for a tryout.
But the Garfield High School pitching ace was drafted during the
Vietnam War instead, where he accumulated numerous accolades in
the United States Army. His service included a deployment to the
jungles of Vietnam for one year, as a Gunner in Artillery. He was
honored with the Vietnam Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign
Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and four Bronze Service Stars for
"Campaign in the Republic of Vietnam." After serving, he worked for
the Water Distributing Co. for 34 years before retiring.
As a native-born East Los Angelino, he grew up playing baseball at
Belvedere Park's 7up League for various teams. Alex also played for
The Tigers traveling team for a few years. He attended Griffith Jr.
High, then graduated from Garfield High School in 1966. During his
time there, he played Varsity Baseball for three years, pitched two
no-hitters, and was being scouted by Major League Baseball's Los
Angeles Dodgers. He has coached the Saugus High School Girls'
Softball team, with two years for Junior Varsity, three years Varsity,
and six years on the Traveling Team.
He has been married for 38 years, having three daughters and three
grandchildren. Alex currently resides in Santa Clarita, California,
and enjoys golf in his spare time.
Interested in becoming a Member?
Download the application and complete.
Mail your completed application for review to:
Boys of Belvedere
PO Box 2462
Montebello, CA 90640
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