Gerald Desmond
Encyclopedia
Gerald "Jerry" Desmond was a prominent Democratic
politician and civic leader in Long Beach, California
who served as a Long Beach City Councilmember and as Long Beach City Attorney
.
Desmond was born in Long Beach, California on April 12, 1915. He was the second oldest son of Walter Desmond
(1876–1951), a religious Irish Catholic
lawyer
from Boston who came to California
in 1905 and opened a law office in Long Beach. Walter Desmond was later appointed a Superior Court
Judge
and was one of the first judges to assign weekend jail time so offenders could work during the week.
Desmond attended Long Beach City College
, where, in 1932, he met his future wife, Virginia Slater. He briefly attended California State University, Long Beach
, but soon transferred to Cal Berkeley
. After graduation, along with Virginia, he attended law school at his father's alma mater
, Harvard
. In 1937 he and Virginia were married, and eventually had five children.
When World War II
began in 1941, Desmond worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office. As a result, he would not have had to go into the service, but he was eager to join and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was in the supply corps, and then he was transferred to fraud investigation. The Navy sent him to Harvard Business School
to train him to prepare for disposing of surplus disposal after the war, but never worked in this field. While he was investigating fraud, he traveled a lot. The Desmonds rented a house in Long Beach and Gerald went to New York
, where he was stationed. He never went overseas. After the war, he came back to Long Beach and opened a private law practice.
Desmond became active in local government and served on the City Council. He was a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention
in Los Angeles
. Later in 1960, he was elected City Attorney and served in that position until his death in 1964 at the age of 48.
The Gerald Desmond Bridge
, which opened in 1968 and connects Terminal Island
and Long Beach, was named in his honor.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician and civic leader 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...
who served as a Long Beach City Councilmember and as Long Beach City Attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
.
Desmond was born in Long Beach, California on April 12, 1915. He was the second oldest son of Walter Desmond
Walter Desmond
Walter J. Desmond was a lawyer, Postmaster, and Public Works Commissioner in Long Beach, California before serving as a Judge on the Los Angeles Superior Court and the California Court of Appeal....
(1876–1951), a religious Irish Catholic
Irish Catholic
Irish Catholic is a term used to describe people who are both Roman Catholic and Irish .Note: the term is not used to describe a variant of Catholicism. More particularly, it is not a separate creed or sect in the sense that "Anglo-Catholic", "Old Catholic", "Eastern Orthodox Catholic" might be...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from Boston who came to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1905 and opened a law office in Long Beach. Walter Desmond was later appointed a Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and was one of the first judges to assign weekend jail time so offenders could work during the week.
Desmond attended Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College, established in 1927, is a community college located in Long Beach, California. It is divided into two campuses. The Liberal Arts Campus, known as LAC, is located in the residential community of the Lakewood Village section of Long Beach, on Carson Street west of Clark Avenue...
, where, in 1932, he met his future wife, Virginia Slater. He briefly attended California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
, but soon transferred to Cal Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. After graduation, along with Virginia, he attended law school at his father's alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Harvard
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. In 1937 he and Virginia were married, and eventually had five children.
When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began in 1941, Desmond worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office. As a result, he would not have had to go into the service, but he was eager to join and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was in the supply corps, and then he was transferred to fraud investigation. The Navy sent him to Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
to train him to prepare for disposing of surplus disposal after the war, but never worked in this field. While he was investigating fraud, he traveled a lot. The Desmonds rented a house in Long Beach and Gerald went to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he was stationed. He never went overseas. After the war, he came back to Long Beach and opened a private law practice.
Desmond became active in local government and served on the City Council. He was a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention
1960 Democratic National Convention
The 1960 Democratic National Convention was held in Los Angeles. In the end, the Kennedy-Johnson ticket was assembled and went on to secure an electoral college victory and a narrow popular vote plurality in the fall over the Republican candidates Richard M...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Later in 1960, he was elected City Attorney and served in that position until his death in 1964 at the age of 48.
The Gerald Desmond Bridge
Gerald Desmond Bridge
The Gerald Desmond Bridge is a through arch bridge that carries four lanes of Ocean Boulevard from Interstate 710 in Long Beach, California, west across the Cerritos Channel to Terminal Island...
, which opened in 1968 and connects Terminal Island
Terminal Island
Terminal Island is an island located in Los Angeles County, California between Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach Harbor. Originally a mudflat known to the Spanish as Isla Raza de Buena Gente, and later called Rattlesnake Island, it has officially been Terminal Island since 1918...
and Long Beach, was named in his honor.