JACK M. ILLES

JOSE A. COTA AWARD FOR PRESERVATION

LEGENDS BEHIND THE BADGE

GALA  AND AWARDS CEREMONY 2006

A native San Diegan, Mr. Illes brought decades of experience in retail, historic preservation and adaptive reuse of historically significant buildings when he joined the Save the Old Police Headquarters committee in 2000.

For more than half a decade he worked tirelessly lending his vast professional expertise to assist the San Diego Police Historical Preservation in saving the SDPD's largest historical artifact, the Old Police Headquarters.

In addition to lobbying support among local architects, Mr. Illes consulted on issues related to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as well as reviewed complicated project plans and drafted response letters to the Port of San Diego who  had already secured all necessary permits to demolish the structure.

Despite the long odds, the San Diego Police Historical Association prevailed in its attempt to save the Old HQ and, in 2013, the Old Police Headquarters re-opened as a tourist  destination and a gem along the San Diego Embarcadero.

The hours donated by Mr. Illes would have totaled well into six figures had he billed the Association at his standard rate. While donating his time to the Old HQ Preservation Committee, Mr. Illes sacrificed other financial opportunities. For his commitment, professionalism and subject matter expertise, Jack Illes was awarded the 2006 Jose A. Cota Award for Preservation.