Title supplied by cataloger. 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.; Elected in 1963, Billy G. Mills (1929-) was the third African American to serve on the Los Angeles City Council, a seat he held until 1974 when he became a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. He was the first African American chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee, winning over fellow Councilman Tom Bradley by just three votes. City Councilman Billy Mills (far right) is shown in Los Angeles City council chambers with members of the musical group The Chambers Brothers, known for integrating their psychedelic soul music with American blues and gospel traditions. Pictured are brothers Joe (speaking into microphone), George and Willie (partially visible behind Joe), and lead singer Lester (second from right), recipients of an award for meritorious service to the city of Los Angeles. The event took place on July 16, 1971. See images 00130080 through 00130091, and 00143705 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Mills, Billy G Los Angeles City Hall (Los Angeles, Calif.) African American men Men African American politicians Politicians City council members Families Brothers Bands (Music) Musical groups Musicians Singers City halls Spectators Resolutions Award presentations Microphones Podiums Smiling Los Angeles (Calif.)
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