Name: John Brogan
Age: 63
Education: Michigan State University; U.S. Army officer
Occupation: Travel industry executive
Hobbies: Golf, tennis, skiing, traveling

First, as a cub scout and boy scout growing up in East Lansing, Mich., and then, over the past 36 years, in the hotel industry with ITT Sheraton Hotels.

Brogan's list of community involvements in Hawaii is long and varied, from hotel industry groups to the Pacific Aerospace Museum to the Catholic Diocese.

The vice president of Sheraton's North America Division and area director of operations was recently named the 1996 Distinguished Citizen by the Aloha Council Boy Scouts of Hawaii.

"The hotel business is a service business, and I've always felt that while we serve our guests of the hotel, as management, we also need to serve our external customers who are the citizens of Hawaii," Brogan said.

His efforts in the local visitor industry stood out to the council's selection committee, a blue-ribbon panel of Brogan's peers in the business community, said finance director Wes Heu.

"He's a great leader as a Hawaii resident," Heu said, adding that Brogan has also been an active board member of the Aloha Council for 15 years.

For Brogan, his involvement in scouting as a youngster had a great impact on his life.

"The ideals of the scouting movement have certainly been part of the foundation for my living over the years," he said.

Brogan said he was advised of his recognition in a personal meeting with the governor, but will be presented the award in August during a benefit dinner at, where else, the Sheraton Waikiki.