AKKAD IS SENIOR OF THE YEAR.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnist

LANCASTER - Patricia ``Patty'' Akkad of Acton, who was named the 2004 Senior of the Year at High Desert Medical Group's 14th annual Seniors Expo, is an inveterate volunteer.

She's been doing it for 49 years.

She now spends two days a week manning a computer at the Palmdale sheriff's station and recently finished her Community EmergencyResponse Training (C.E.R.T.) in Littlerock.

Others nominated for the coveted award were Walter and Dora Carrier,Patricia Finley and Eileen McAllister.

The announcement was made on stage Thursday in the Poppy Pavilion at the new Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, climaxing a day of activities and entertainment that included a talk by actor Hugh O'Brian.

It was the first time that a husband-and-wife team had been nominated together. The Carriers, who have been married 53 years, were lauded for dedication to the Antelope Valley Allied Arts Association.

Finley was cited for her personal courage in the face of obstacles that might have derailed a lesser person. As a child she endured facial disfigurement and ridicule because of an accident at 3 years of age. As an adult she has used her optimistic strength and experiences to give encouragement to other people.

McAllister, an immigrant from Britain in 1963, came to the Antelope Valley in 1999 and decided to become a volunteer after she retired. Always interested in nature, she went to help at Lancaster's Prime Desert Woodlands Reserve.

O'Brian, best remembered for starring in ABC's 1955-61 series ``Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp,'' strolled onto the stage with the help of a cane, due to a knee injury, and sat in a chair for most his talk.

``I'm really glad to be here,'' he quipped. ``At my age, I'm damn glad to be anywhere.''

O'Brian will turn 80 in April.

He appeared with John Wayne in Wayne's final film, portraying a gambler in 1976's ``The Shootist.''

``I was the last person he shot in 'The Shootist','' he said. ``That was the story of a gunman who was dying of cancer. It was the Duke's last picture. He died of cancer shortly after making it.''

Asked whether he really rode horses and shot guns and hunted, as he was portrayed in his television series role as Wyatt Earp, he answered, ``No. I never hunted anything but girls.''

O'Brian now travels around the world for a youth program called HOBY - Hugh O'Brian Youth - that he founded in 1958.

``We try to show 15- and 16-year-olds that there are rewards for being responsible,'' said.

The foundation operates in 75 locations where high school students selected for their potential leadership qualities spend three or four days of training.

O'Brian created the foundation after meeting humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa.

``He said the most important thing in education is teaching young people to think for themselves. I've modified that somewhat but it is essentially what we do,'' said O'Brian.

The program's work is done by volunteers. O'Brian urged seniors who are able to to get out and become a part of it.

``There's a real need for people in your age group to come work with these kids'' and there is great satisfaction to be derived from it, he said. ``So get involved. It'll keep you young.''

O'Brian said he is particularly proud that he was a Marine, adding that he became a drill instructor at age 17.

He asked all the ex-Marines in the audience to stand and counted five.

``We all want you to know that six Marines have you completely surrounded,'' he said. His father was a Marine in World War I, he said, and was a strict taskmaster.

``I knew the Marine Corps hymn before I knew the national anthem,'' he said. ``Being a 17-year-old drill instructor was hard and I was tough, but we all had a job to do and we did the best we could with what we were told to do.''

Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster and Palmdale have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk, for a suggested donation of $2.

Monday: COLUMBUS DAY.

Tuesday: Cheeseburger, potato wedges, corn niblets, tossed salad,pineapple juice, peaches.

Wednesday: Barbecued chicken, rice pilaf, Normandy vegetables, lettuce and tomato salad, banana.

Thursday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, cooked cabbage, carrot/raisinsalad, soup, vanilla pudding.

Friday: Roast turkey, bread dressing, peas and carrots, garden salad,grape juice, gelatin with fruit.

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Patricia Akkad of Acton was named 2004's Senior of the Year for her 49 years of volunteer work.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer