Earl C. Gay
Encyclopedia
Earl C. Gay was a registered pharmacist who was a member of the Los Angeles City Council between 1933 and 1945.
| |}>
Gay was born December 8, 1902, in Long Beach, California
, the son of Ellsworth Gay and Elba W. Bain Gay. His siblings were Bernice Windisch, Louise Ferguson, Maude Wilmans or Williams and Robert W. Gay. He attended Florence Avenue Grammar School, Jefferson High School and Manual Arts High School
, both in Los Angeles, after which he received a degree from the Henry Coleman School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California
. He managed the Thompson and Thompson Drug Company and the Morgan Drug Company. His hobbies were golf
and bowling
. In 1937 he was living at 5832 South Van Ness Avenue, near Slauson Avenue.
He was married on October 8, 1926, to Irene Elizabeth Constable of Los Angeles. They had one daughter, Corinne Elizabeth (later Shero).
He was a member of the Southside, Angeles Mesa and Crenshaw chambers of commerce, the Southwest Boosters Club and the Civic Interest League, as well as the International Footprinters Association, Native Sons of the Golden West
, Masons
and the Shrine
. He attended the Chesterfield Square Methodist Church.
He died February 6, 1972, in a Torrance
convalescent hospital. Burial was in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
.
In 1933, Los Angeles City Council District 6
covered the southwest part of the city, with the northern boundary at Vernon Avenue, the southern at Century Boulevard
, the western at La Brea Avenue
and the eastern at Vermont Avenue
. Gay ran that year against incumbent Council Member James G. McAllister
and was elected, 12,131-11,856. He was reelected easily in 1935 over Lottie E. Barkow, the End Poverty in California candidate, and was also reelected in every biennial vote from 1937 to 1943. He lost in 1945, however, to L.E. Timberlake by a close vote, 8,841 to 8,404.
Gay survived a recall attempt in 1938, sponsored by Robert Noble, a pension advocate.
The 6th District councilman was "an archenemy of reform
Mayor Fletcher Bowron
. However, he survived repeated political assaults from Bowron and chaired the Police and Fire Committee and the Finance Committee." He was on Bowron's "purge
list" in the 1939 election. After Bowron referred to himself in a radio address as the "lone wolf" of City Hall, Gay and fellow Council Member Edward L. Thrasher
set a wolf trap outside the door of the mayor's suite a a joke.
In 1943 he and three other council members unsuccessfully opposed granting a permit to Seaboard Oil Company for slant oil drilling
under Elysian Park from a site near Riverside Drive
.
Biography
Gay was born December 8, 1902, in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, the son of Ellsworth Gay and Elba W. Bain Gay. His siblings were Bernice Windisch, Louise Ferguson, Maude Wilmans or Williams and Robert W. Gay. He attended Florence Avenue Grammar School, Jefferson High School and Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School is a secondary school in Los Angeles, California. When founded, Manual Arts was a vocational high school, but later converted to a traditional curriculum.-History:...
, both in Los Angeles, after which he received a degree from the Henry Coleman School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He managed the Thompson and Thompson Drug Company and the Morgan Drug Company. His hobbies were golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
. In 1937 he was living at 5832 South Van Ness Avenue, near Slauson Avenue.
He was married on October 8, 1926, to Irene Elizabeth Constable of Los Angeles. They had one daughter, Corinne Elizabeth (later Shero).
He was a member of the Southside, Angeles Mesa and Crenshaw chambers of commerce, the Southwest Boosters Club and the Civic Interest League, as well as the International Footprinters Association, Native Sons of the Golden West
Native Sons of the Golden West
-History:The Native Sons of the Golden West was founded July 11, 1875 by General A. M. Winn, a Virginian, as a lasting monument to the men and women of the Gold Rush Days...
, Masons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and the Shrine
Shriners
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States...
. He attended the Chesterfield Square Methodist Church.
He died February 6, 1972, in a Torrance
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
convalescent hospital. Burial was in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original location of Forest Lawn, a chain of cemeteries in Southern California. The land was formerly part of Providencia Ranch.-History:...
.
City Council
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1933–45In 1933, Los Angeles City Council District 6
Los Angeles City Council District 6
Los Angeles City Council District 6 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council, covering much of the San Fernando Valley. It is represented by Tony Cardenas....
covered the southwest part of the city, with the northern boundary at Vernon Avenue, the southern at Century Boulevard
Century Boulevard
Century Boulevard is a street in South Los Angeles, extending from Wilmington Avenue in the east to the passenger terminals at Los Angeles International Airport in the west ....
, the western at La Brea Avenue
La Brea Avenue
La Brea Avenue is a prominent north/south thoroughfare in Los Angeles. Several museums are located along La Brea, and it is known for having many stores and eateries.-Description:...
and the eastern at Vermont Avenue
Vermont Avenue
Vermont Avenue is one of the longest running north/south streets in Los Angeles, California with a length of about . Located just west of the Harbor Freeway for the major portion south of Downtown Los Angeles, it starts in Griffith Park at the Greek Theatre in the Los Feliz neighborhood as a...
. Gay ran that year against incumbent Council Member James G. McAllister
James G. McAllister
Not to be confused with Robert S. MacAlister, Los Angeles City Council member 1934–39James G. McAllister was a 20th century rancher and miner who was on the Utah Board of Equalization and later was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1928 to 1933.-Biography:McAllister was...
and was elected, 12,131-11,856. He was reelected easily in 1935 over Lottie E. Barkow, the End Poverty in California candidate, and was also reelected in every biennial vote from 1937 to 1943. He lost in 1945, however, to L.E. Timberlake by a close vote, 8,841 to 8,404.
Gay survived a recall attempt in 1938, sponsored by Robert Noble, a pension advocate.
The 6th District councilman was "an archenemy of reform
Reform movement
A reform movement is a kind of social movement that aims to make gradual change, or change in certain aspects of society, rather than rapid or fundamental changes...
Mayor Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron was the 35th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from September 26, 1938 until June 30, 1953. Until Thomas Bradley passed his length of service during the 1980s, Bowron held the distinction of having the longest tenure in that position in city history.Bowron was born in Poway,...
. However, he survived repeated political assaults from Bowron and chaired the Police and Fire Committee and the Finance Committee." He was on Bowron's "purge
Purge
In history, religion, and political science, a purge is the removal of people who are considered undesirable by those in power from a government, from another organization, or from society as a whole. Purges can be peaceful or violent; many will end with the imprisonment or exile of those purged,...
list" in the 1939 election. After Bowron referred to himself in a radio address as the "lone wolf" of City Hall, Gay and fellow Council Member Edward L. Thrasher
Edward L. Thrasher
Edward Lee Thrasher , who went by Edward L. Thrasher, was a builder, contractor and decorator who served on the Los Angeles, California, City Council between 1931 and 1942.-Biography:...
set a wolf trap outside the door of the mayor's suite a a joke.
In 1943 he and three other council members unsuccessfully opposed granting a permit to Seaboard Oil Company for slant oil drilling
Directional drilling
Directional drilling is the practice of drilling non-vertical wells. It can be broken down into three main groups: Oilfield Directional Drilling, Utility Installation Directional Drilling Directional drilling (or slant drilling) is the practice of drilling non-vertical wells. It can be broken down...
under Elysian Park from a site near Riverside Drive
Riverside Drive (Los Angeles, California)
Riverside Drive is a northeast-southwest road connecting the San Fernando Valley and Downtown Los Angeles, California. It follows the course of the Los Angeles River.-Overview:...
.