Carlton Lofgren, SD’61, is this year’s recipient of the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award. The honor was presented to him by Dean Charles Goodacre, SD’71, Thursday evening, February 10, during the Alumni Student Convention banquet held at the San Bernardino Hilton.
A charter member of the Dean’s Circle, Dr. Lofgren’s “unique background, willing spirit, and extraordinary contributions to the University made him the perfect candidate for this award,” Dean Goodacre said.
While a senior at LLUSD, Dr. Lofgren was honored to receive both the Restorative Dentistry Award for his clinical skills and the President’s Award for his leadership abilities.
Dr. Lofgren practiced privately for ten years following graduation, simultaneously serving on the School of Dentistry faculty. He was active in teaching gold foil technique, and a member of the Gold Foil Club.
A committed churchman, Dr. Lofgren was for years an elder for the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church, before transferring his membership to the Loma Linda University Church where he currently serves on several church committees, including the Fundraising Committee for the University Church Chapel.
In 1971, Dr. Lofgren joined his family’s egg business as operations vice president, subsequently moving up to executive vice president, before being named president in 1991. He served on the board of directors of the American Egg Board for 12 years, and was appointed president of that entity for the period 1999 to 2001, when he received the Producer of the Year National Award.
Dr. Lofgren contributes to his community as well, serving on the Mission Savings Bank Board from 1988 to 2004.
In 1991, he was invited to join the Loma Linda University Councilors for which he served as president from 1999 to 2000. He was appointed to the Loma Linda University Board of Trustees in 2001, and has been invited to remain on that board through 2012.
Dr. Lofgren and his wife, Raye, shouldered the demanding role as Centennial Complex Steering Committee co-chairs, in the effort to fund the Centennial Building that opened in 2009. This magnificent, 151,000 square foot structure was made possible by more than $50,000,000 in donations, raised through the campaign managed by Carlton and Raye Lofgren and Carleton and Patti (Shryock) Wallace.
Taking into account all of the foregoing, Dr. Lofgren considers his most important accomplishment to be his three children and nine grandchildren. His children have presented him with the very prestigious Best-Daddy-in-the-Whole-World award, and Father-of-the-Year honors. These are the distinctions he most cherishes.