President, Ahmanson Foundation

“Ahmanson is the great-nephew of Howard F. Ahmanson, who co-founded The Ahmanson Foundation with his wife, Dorothy Grannis Ahmanson, in 1952. The foundation supports grants for education, the arts and humanities, education and health initiatives in Los Angeles County. William Ahmanson worked in banking and wealth management at Union Bank and Home Savings of America. He is the recipient of the Access to Justice Award from the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and the Cardinal’s Award from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, among other accolades, and has served on the boards of the California Institute of Technology, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Petersen Automotive Museum.

What’s the best advice you ever received? From my father: Just be fair. As I moved through life this became a tenant reinforced through family, faith, business and the Wilshire chapter of Rotary.

What’s your favorite film? Depends on the day and the mood.  The film that popped into my head when this favorite film question was asked is “The Third Man,” produced in 1949. This film has all the cinematic tricks that made “Citizen Kane” famous but a better plot than Kane. Plus, the theme is played on a zither. Who doesn’t like a good zither?

What’s at the top of your bucket list? The top of my bucket list is to create a bucket list.

What was your first car? Would you like to have it back? My first car was the same car my older brother got, the same car our older sister got: A 1972 Datsun 510 Station Wagon was the hand-me-down vehicle.

Would you like to have it back? I would love to have that back. Not sure my back would, though.

What’s the best thing about living in Los Angeles? The best part about Los Angeles is the diversity of experience. The world is represented through our various “towns” and museums.”

YEARS ON LA500: 8