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.; Leslie Shaw (1922-1985) was named the postmaster of Los Angeles in 1963, under the direction of President John F. Kennedy. He was the first African American postmaster of Los Angeles, and the first black male to be appointed Postmaster of a major US City. He was preceded only by Nancy Avery, who was appointed Postmaster of Pacoima in 1961 and was the first African American Postmaster of a major office in California. Councilmember Billy Mills (right) is shown at City Hall acknowledging the City Delivery Centennial. Pictured with him are Acting Los Angeles Postmaster Leslie N. Shaw (left) and Irvin Brandau, President, Branch 24, National Association of Letter Carriers, who is receiving a commendation certificate. The American flag is partially visible in the background. Photograph circa 1963. See images 00125569; 00125570; 00141893 and 00141894 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Mills, Billy G Shaw, Leslie N.,--1985 Los Angeles City Hall (Los Angeles, Calif.) African American men Men African American politicians Politicians African American postal service employees Postmasters Letter carriers City council members Government employees City halls Offices Furniture Draperies Flags Smiling Posing Los Angeles (Calif.)
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