Biography
DENNIS F. CLAUS
I am a native of Orange County, California, born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange. Growing up in Tustin, I was active in sports and music. Besides playing a lot of baseball and basketball, I was in one of the top local rock bands throughout the 60’s. I think we were actually one of the first bands to use black lights and “glow” onstage. I am hoping that not too many people remember the time we wore white pants…
I attended Foothill High School, Saddleback College, and Cal State Fullerton.
In 1973, at the tender age of 20, I married Laurinda Campbell. Two short years later we welcomed Andrea into the world; 14 months after that, Rob. I am blessed with a fantastic family that now includes Andrea, her husband Mike, and their four children Hannah, Jackson, Dennis Tyler, and Alex; and Rob, his wife China, and their son Kyle.
Real Estate investing has been a passion of mine since purchasing a four-plex near Santa Ana in 1974. Since that first investment, I have purchased, sold, and exchanged hundreds of units throughout California and Arizona. Licensed as a Realtor since 1977, I obtained my California Real Estate Broker’s license in 1987. I have been the owner/broker of Westgate Properties/Claus Realty Advisors since 1985. Although I have been fortunate to sell all types of property during my career, I have been able to specialize in a couple of areas where I have made a niche. These include residential income, legal/non-conforming, and animal care facilities. I have been an expert witness in the state of California regarding animal care facilities numerous times and have spoken at a number of public hearings regarding animal care facility issues.
Another passion I have is coaching youth sports. In 1991, I was asked to coach the varsity boys and girls tennis teams at Foothill High School. I remained head coach through 1995. In 2004, I was again asked to return to Foothill as the boys coach, and I still am out there coaching the guys in what is now a “year-round” program. I was very fortunate to be named High School “Coach of the Year” by the Orange County Register for the 1994-1995 season. The 2010-2011 school year will mark my 17th tennis season at Foothill.
In 1990, I was asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Padrinos. The Padrinos is the largest men’s and women’s support guild raising money for CHOC. In 1997, I was elected president of the Padrinos. During my extended 11/2-year term as president, the Padrinos raised and donated a record amount of nearly $1,000,000.00 for CHOC. During my tenure, I also founded the Junior Padrinos, the Tour de CHOC Bicycle Ride, and the CHOC Lite Tennis Tournament. In 1994, I became a lifetime member of the Padrinos. In 2001-2002, I also served as a board member and real estate advisor to the CHOC thrift stores.
In 1989, I was asked (duped, really…just kidding) to assist with the Vic Braden CHOC Padrinos Charity Tennis Classic. I served as assistant tournament director and became the tournament director in 1993. In 1994 and in 1995 I was the tournament chairman working closely with Vic Braden. The tournament became the largest charity tennis event in California with over 1500 participants. I was also the tournament director from 1996 to 2003.
In 1990, due to an increased need for quality tennis events in southern California, I helped found and became president of the Orange County Grand Prix Championship Tennis Tour. The ten-tournament series is the largest adult tournament series in California. We run Southern California Tennis Events, the largest charity tennis tournament in California, and for 15 years we have run a tour event in Mexico.
In 1996, I co-founded the Orange County Community Tennis Association. The OCCTA was founded to help grow the game of tennis, assist with inner-city tennis programs, become a clearing house and forum for tennis ideas throughout Orange County, and help create a strong after-school tennis program. Now an advisory board member, I am committed to creating opportunities grow tennis.
Since 1990, I have been affiliated with the Adoption Guild Charity Tournament, the Pie-in-the-Sky Charity Tennis Tournament, the Top Gun Tournament, and the Aliah Sweet Fragile Hearts Foundation celebrity pro am tennis event. I have assisted with consulting, ratings, seeding and draws for these events, and I was also a consultant, draw and seeding committee member for the Mammoth Open Tennis Tournament in Mammoth Lakes, California, and founded the Big Bear Open in Big Bear, California.
In 2003, I lost my mother to ovarian cancer. Because of that life-changing experience, I founded the Queen of Hearts charity tennis tournament benefiting Ovarian Cancer Research at University of California, Irvine. Partnering with the Queen of Hearts Foundation, nearly $1,000,000 has been raised for ovarian cancer research. Now in its 8th year, the Queen of Hearts charity tennis tournament is the largest charity tennis tournament in California. We are on a mission to help develop an early detection test for ovarian cancer. We have funded a number of studies relating to ovarian cancer and are committed to making a test available. Also, as part of my commitment to the University of California, Irvine, I am on an advisory committee for pediatric research.
T. Allan Armstrong once said, “If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.”
We can all make a difference.
Dennis