Turlock native Lila Johnson has been named one of the newest officers to champion the cause of the American Cancer Society.

Johnson, who now resides in Hawaii, was elected secretary of the National Board of Directors for the Society at its annual meeting in Los Angeles.

She has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society for more than 30 years, and has served at all levels of the organization including president of the Honolulu Unit and both president and board chair of the Hawaii Pacific Division.

“It is a great honor to be able to serve as a national officer to the American Cancer Society,” Johnson said. “I am proud to be a part of an organization that is saving lives and working to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. While we are making great progress in the fight against cancer, we still have a great deal of work to do by helping people stay well; helping people get well; by finding cures; and by fighting back through advocacy.”

Johnson, nee Skonovd, is a 1964 graduate of Turlock High School. She went on to earn a Bachelors of Nursing degree from San Francisco State University and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Hawaii.

Johnson is currently the representative from North America to the International Network of Women Against Tobacco Executive Board. She is on staff as the statewide Community Coordinator for the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program.

The American Cancer Society is governed by the National Assembly and the National Board of Directors, which have been comprised of elected volunteers since the organization’s inception in 1913.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.