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.; 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. Los Angeles Postmaster Leslie M. Shaw (center) is seen sitting atop a convertible Impala automobile waving to a crowd of men, women and children standing on the sidewalk during an unidentified parade. There is a sign on the side of the car that reads, "Leslie M. Shaw, L.A. Postmaster." The woman and the young girl sitting on either side of him and the man driving are unidentified. Photograph circa 1968. See images 00128592, 00128593, and 00143609 through 00143616 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 color negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Shaw, Leslie N.,--1985 United States Postal Service--Officials and employees African American men Men African American women Women African American children Children African American girls Girls African American postmasters Postmasters Automobiles, Convertible Chauffeurs Parades Spectators Crowds Signs and signboards Smiling Los Angeles (Calif.)
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