These days, where frequent change is a common occurrence, to acknowledge employees for long-term job commitment has become a somewhat rare event. But Jon Bozigian and Diana Mills each had an opportunity to share in that honor bestowed on a parent recognized for decades of devotion to their jobs at the Coldwell Banker Hartwig Company in Lancaster.

Jon, AVEK’s Operations Manager, and Diana, the Agency’s Clerical Assistant, attended a retirement celebration on February 3 at the Coldwell Banker offices where Ralph Bozigian worked for 33 years and Myrna Mendenhall worked for 30 years – both helping Valley residents achieve the American Dream of home ownership.

Diana’s mother Myrna, 84, joined the Coldwell Banker real estate sales team in 1992. However, she began her real estate career in 1980 at the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate office in Simi Valley, dedicating a total of 42 years to the property sales industry.

Diana, an Antelope Valley resident, said she grew up in Simi Valley. Her family moved there from Reseda when she was in kindergarten, so she transferred to Santa Susana Elementary School on the eastside of town. Back then the family lived in an area known as the Texas Tract.

Diana said her parents just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on Saturday, February 19. They took their marriage vows on February 18, 1956.

Jon’s father Ralph, 90, is a familiar face throughout the Antelope Valley. He and his older brother, the late Lou Bozigian, lived in the community since 1955. They were an inseparable presence who demonstrated sincere interest within the community through their involvement in various organizations and enhancement projects.

Their first venture was a farm at 120th Street West and Rosamond Boulevard. Eventually Lou entered the real estate market. After hip replacement surgery rendered him unable to work on the farm. Ralph stopped farming in 1988 and ventured into real estate.

Lou, who died in July 2016, had closed Coldwell Banker Bozigian Realty in July 2013 – an agency the brothers co-owned and started in 1984. Initially Ralph, along with some of the other agents, migrated to Coldwell Banker Hartwig Realty. Prior to ownership of Coldwell Banker Bozigian Realty, the brothers owned and operated Fred Sands Mid-Valley Realtors for four years. Before that they spent 13 years at Mid-Valley Real Estate, a nonfranchise company.

At one juncture, Ralph commented that he and Lou had been together for a total of 60 years.

Among his long list of credits, Lou was a recipient of the Purple Heart for Military Merit after being wounded in World War II. He also served as a trustee on a school board and was a former Lancaster City Mayor.

Ralph also dedicated his life to community service. In October 2017, at the Lancaster City Council meeting, Mayor R. Rex Parris presented Ralph with a Certificate of Recognition as a Longtime Community Supporter and Local Businessman.

In February 2017, the Ralph and Virginia Bozigian Family sponsored trees for Lancaster’s BLVD Transformation Project. In September 2019, Ralph was honored at The Night at the Museum Gala for his “enduring commitment to youth education and his unwavering service to the community.”

The second floor of the Lancaster Museum of Art and History, commonly known as MOAH, displays exhibits in the Ralph and Virginia Bozigian Family Gallery. Ralph had donated a 1954 McCormack FARMALL tractor to the Antelope Valley Rural Museum at the fairgrounds as a display item reflecting the community’s history. That tractor came from the Bozigian brothers’ farm. Jon completely restored it for the Museum’s display.

Ralph was named in the Museum’s list of Bronze sponsors.