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.; Iron Eyes Cody (1904-1999) was an actor born in Kaplan, Louisiana. The son of Sicilian immigrants, Francesca Salpietra and Antonio De Corti, he was born Espera De Corti (or Oscar, as he was called), but changed his name in 1924, from Corti to Cody. Iron Eyes began his acting career at the age of 12 and continued to work until the time of his death, appearing in more than 200 films, but becoming most famous for his "Crying Indian" role in the Keep America Beautiful public service announcement in the early 1970s. Although he was not born a Native American (he claimed to be part Cherokee and part Cree), he lived his adult years as one. In 1995, Hollywood's Native American community honored Cody for his longstanding contribution to Native American causes. Iron Eyes Cody died on January 5, 1999 at the age of 94 and was buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Councilmember Billy Mills (left) can be seen standing next to a smiling Iron Eyes Cody, and speaking into a microphone. Cody, dressed in full Native American regalia, was presented a commendation from Councilman Mills at City Hall Council chambers. Several spectators can be seen sitting in the background. Photograph circa 1969. See images 00125574 through 00125580 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Mills, Billy G Cody, Iron Eyes,--1904-1999 Los Angeles City Hall (Los Angeles, Calif.) African American men Men African American politicians Politicians City council members City halls Motion picture actors and actresses Actors Costumes Headdresses Feathers Certificates Awards Audiences Podiums Microphones Speeches, addresses, etc Smiling Los Angeles (Calif.)
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