Rolland Joseph 'Speedy' Curtis was born in Louisiana in 1922. After serving three years in the Marines during World War II, he and his wife, Gloria, relocated from New Orleans to Los Angeles in 1946. Curtis served four years with the Los Angeles Police Department, but resigned from the force in order to pursue both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from USC. He later became involved in city politics, as an associate of Sam Yorty, and later a field deputy to City Council members Billy Mills and Tom Bradley. He was briefly director of the Model Cities program in 1973. Rolland J. Curtis died in his home in 1979, the victim of a homicide. An affordable housing complex on Exposition Blvd. near Vermont Ave. was named in his honor in 1981, along with a nearby street and park. George Pierre, Chief of the Nez Perce tribe, accepts a proclamation for All American Indian Week, held by City Council member Gilbert Lindsay. Also on hand in City Hall Chambers is Iron Eyes Cody and Councilman Billy Mills, along with other Native Americans in full dress.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w;10x13 cm. Photographic prints
Pierre, George Lindsay, Gilbert Cody, Iron Eyes,--1904-1999 Mills, Billy G Los Angeles City Hall (Los Angeles, Calif.) Proclamations Public speaking--California--Los Angeles City council members--California--Los Angeles City halls--California--Los Angeles Microphones Actors--United States Native Americans--Clothing Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.)
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