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. Group photo of people cutting the ribbon at the opening of White Front store on March 30, 1967. From left: Pat Becker, Bill Cosby, Kenneth Hahn, Harry Epstein, unidentified, Carol Cole, Rick Jason, Billy Mills, unidentified, unidentified.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w;10x13 cm. Photographic prints
Becker, Pat Cosby, Bill,--1937- Hahn, Kenneth Epstein, Harry Cole, Carol Jason, Rick Mills, Billy G White Front (Firm) Stores & shops--California--Los Angeles Comedians--United States Dedications--California--Los Angeles City council members--California--Los Angeles County council members--California--Los Angeles County Men--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Los Angeles (Calif.)
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