Sharon Wiley Hightower
CGU, M.A., Government, 1966
Sharon Hightower was one of George Blair’s advisee’s. One of the things he advised her
back in the 1960’s was that she should become an Assistant Planner with the City of Claremont.
Mrs. Hightower has recently retired from a 40-year career as an urban planner. She held planning
management positions with the City of Claremont, City of Rancho Palos Verdes, and the County
of San Bernardino. After leaving the County, Sharon established a planning consulting firm
based in Claremont. For sixteen years she advised local governments in a variety of planning
studies and management.
She has been active in professional and community organizations. She is a member of the
American Planning Association and the California Planning Roundtable. Sharon received the
Distinguished Service Award in 2001from the California Chapter of the APA.
In the local community, she has been a member/officer of League of Women Voters,
Claremont Heritage, Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity, Claremont Committee on Aging, and
Sustainable Claremont. Sharon served on the Claremont Planning Commission for ten years and
chaired the 100-member Claremont General Plan Update Committee. She has been an active
advocate for affordable housing. Her other passions are quilting and travel.
Sharon and Jim live in Claremont and have two adult children. They began their CGU
life at the now defunct 1111 Dartmouth residences and have returned to Claremont twice. They
have been married to each other for 52 years.