John Darvish inducted into Washington Business Hall of Fame

John Darvish inducted into Washington Business Hall of Fame

DARCARS founder and president John Darvish was one of five local business leaders inducted into the Washington Business Hall of Fame last week by Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, Washingtonian magazine and the Greater Washington Board of Trade. The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding business and community leadership over a career span of service in Greater Washington.

In accepting the honor, Darvish told the crowd of more than 1,200 that as a young man he came to America from Iran to be a heart surgeon. When he decided he wanted to pursue a career in the automobile business instead, his father said, If thats what you want to do, you have my blessing. But dont be an average, everyday automobile man. Become [a] Henry Ford.

In addition to John Darvish, the other four 2012 Hall of Fame honorees were: Thomas Hale Boggs Jr., chairman Patton Boggs, LLP; Giuseppe Cecchi, president, The IDI Group Companies; Charito Kruvant, president, Creative Associates International and Ronald Paul, chairman, EagleBank.

The Washington Business Hall of Fame began in 1988 and boasts 85 notable Washingtonians, past and present, over the last 24 years to include such names as Earle Palmer Brown, Oliver Carr, Don Graham, Katherine Graham, Austin Kiplinger, Ted Lerner, Bill Marriott, Mandell Ourisman, Abe Pollin, Charles Smith, Jack Valenti, Walter Washington and Edward Bennett Williams.

Proceeds from the awards dinner last Tuesday, Dec. 4 at the Washington Hilton benefited Junior Achievements mission to empower young people to own their economic success.