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. Police Chief Edward M. Davis of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is pictured shaking hands with an unidentified member of Community Beautiful, Inc. who is presenting him with a congratulatory plaque. The plaque reads,"Community Beautiful Inc. salutes Edward M. Davis in attaining the highest rank with the Los Angeles Police Dept. CHIEF, October 20, 1969". The presentation was made during an awards ceremony and salute dinner which was held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hilton on October 20, 1969. The American flag is partially visible behind them. See images 00128433 through 00128435, and 00143444 through 00143456 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Davis, Edward M.,--1916-2006 Beverly Hilton Hotel (Beverly Hills, Calif.) Los Angeles (Calif.).--Police Department--Officers Men African American women Women Police chiefs Police Police--Awards Award presentations Awards Plaques, plaquettes Hotels Ballrooms Flags Handshaking Smiling Beverly Hills (Calif.)
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