Title created 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. Council Member Billy Mills (left), is pictured inside Los Angeles City Hall council chambers with Wesley Brazier, Los Angeles Urban League Executive Director and civil rights leader. The reason the men are speaking in council chambers is unknown and no further information has been given. Photograph circa 1966. See images 00127995 through 00127997; 00142022, and 00142023 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Mills, Billy G Brazier, Wesley Los Angeles City Hall (Los Angeles, Calif.) African American men Men African American politicians Politicians City council members Executives Civic leaders City halls Podiums Microphones Los Angeles (Calif.)
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