Baxter Ward
Encyclopedia
Baxter Ward was a television news anchor who served two terms on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
. Prior to his election on the board, he ran third in an unsuccessful bid to unseat Sam Yorty for Mayor of Los Angeles in 1969.
In 1974, Ward launched the nation’s first county-owned commuter train between San Diego and Los Angeles. Proposition 13 killed the project that critics branded "Baxter’s choo choo". But the legal work done on its behalf paved the way for the eventual Metrolink
system.
He was born Baxter Ward Schwellenbach in Superior, Wisconsin
, and grew up in Ephrata, Washington
. He was the nephew of Lewis Baxter Schwellenbach.
During the 1950s he was on a short-lived non-fiction
television
show called Adventure Tomorrow with Dr. Martin L. Klein, which presented technology
, primarily aerospace
.
Ward was as a television news anchor first at KCOP-Channel 13 and then with KABC-Channel 7 in Los Angeles before he ran for Mayor.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is the five-member nonpartisan governing board of Los Angeles County, California. Members of the board of supervisors are elected by district. They were as of December 2, 2008:*District 1: Gloria Molina...
. Prior to his election on the board, he ran third in an unsuccessful bid to unseat Sam Yorty for Mayor of Los Angeles in 1969.
In 1974, Ward launched the nation’s first county-owned commuter train between San Diego and Los Angeles. Proposition 13 killed the project that critics branded "Baxter’s choo choo". But the legal work done on its behalf paved the way for the eventual Metrolink
Metrolink (Southern California)
Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
system.
He was born Baxter Ward Schwellenbach in Superior, Wisconsin
Superior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
, and grew up in Ephrata, Washington
Ephrata, Washington
Ephrata is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 6,808 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Grant County.-History:...
. He was the nephew of Lewis Baxter Schwellenbach.
During the 1950s he was on a short-lived non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show called Adventure Tomorrow with Dr. Martin L. Klein, which presented technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, primarily aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
.
Ward was as a television news anchor first at KCOP-Channel 13 and then with KABC-Channel 7 in Los Angeles before he ran for Mayor.