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 supporters of Operation Breadbasket. At the podium is City Council member Billy Mills. At right, seated, is Rev. H. Hartford Brookins, A.M.E. Church. The photo in front is of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the drawing on the wall is of Jesse Jackson.
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w;10x13 cm. Photographic prints
Brookins, H. Hartford Mills, Billy G King, Martin Luther,--Jr.,--1929-1968--Portraits Operation Breadbasket First A.M.E. Church (Los Angeles, Calif.)--Clergy Associations, institutions, etc.--California--Los Angeles Food relief--California--Los Angeles Clergy--California--Los Angeles Audiences--California--Los Angeles Public speaking--California--Los Angeles Podiums--California--Los Angeles Microphones City council members--California--Los Angeles Los Angeles (Calif.)
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