Lathrop Hoffman and the Hoffman family share business ability, a focus on automobiles and their community, and a complete lack of interest in the ethnic or religious association of those they deal with. Lathrop shared all of these attributes with the community of Monrovia -- building a cluster of automobile dealerships and providing leadership and support through the Chamber of Commerce, the school district and various non-profit organizations.   He worked and played with the Jewish Sandfords and helped to elect and provided major support to the Black Mayor Bob Bartlett. Completely oblivious to ethnicity, he brought an Asian man into his golf club.

 

Lathrop's attributes were not surprising for the son of Paul Hoffman who not only chaired the Studebaker Company and the Ford Foundation, but also served as the first director of the Marshall Plan and of the United Nations Development Program. Paul's focus was always on people -- supporting their abilities and increasing their opportunities.