Howard E. Dorsey
Encyclopedia
Howard E. Dorsey was a hydraulic engineer who was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council in 1937. He was the only City Council member since at least 1925 to die in office from accidental death — in his case, a traffic mishap — and the member to have served the fewest number of days in office — thirty-six.
, the son of William Edward Dorsey of Pennellville, New York
, and Berdena Cecelia Dales of Ohio. His father and grandfather were Los Angeles city police officers, and he was a nephew of Susan M. Dorsey
, noted Los Angeles educator. He was educated in L.A. public schools in the Hollenbeck Heights district and graduated from Lincoln High School, after which, financing himself with odd jobs
, he studied commercial law, banking and accounting and civil
and hydraulic engineering
at the American Institute
in Los Angeles.
For 18 months he was "in charge of investigation" on the West Coast for the U.S. Treasury Department, and then for five years he was with the Bureau of Water and Power
, when he was superintendent of construction, street, storm-drain and improvement work.
He was married in 1930 to Edith Irene Wallin of Minnesota. They had two sons, Howard Edward Jr. and Leroy.
He was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West
and the International Footprinters Association. He was a Protestant and a Democrat. His hobbies were fishing, golf and tennis. He lived at 2215 East Second Street in Boyle Heights.
Dorsey developed a "pre-delinquent detail program" used by the Los Angeles Police Department and involving "elimination from police records of first offences [sic] of a minor nature, voluntary probation and a cooperative remedial and adjustment program with a social agency." It was said that police officers from other cities were sent to Los Angeles to study its application.
on the way to Big Bear Valley
. "Forty-foot skid marks . . . indicated that Dorsey apparently lost control of his machine." It went over a seven-foot embankment and into "one of the steepest canyons in the mountain area." The councilman's body was "flung out approximately 1,000 feet down the canyon wall." Trees were set alight by the burning gasoline, attracting the attention of motorists who notified authorities, who relied on a squad of California Conservation Corps youths to fight the blaze.
Dorsey was accompanied by Marion Gertrude Lonabaugh, 37, secretary to Councilman John W. Baumgartner; she died two hours after the accident.
A funeral service at Calvary Baptist Church conducted by H.M.S. Richards of the radio Voice of Prophecy
attracted some thousand mourners. Burial followed in Evergreen Cemetery.
In 1933, Dorsey was the manager of the unsuccessful campaign by Winfred J. Sanborn
for election to the Los Angeles City Council
in the 9th Councilmanic District
against George W.C. Baker, and in 1935 Dorsey was a candidate himself for the same seat, losing to Parley Parker Christensen. He ran again in 1937, beating Jack Y. Berman in the runoff election "by a comfortable lead."
In the mid-1930s, the 9th District was generally bounded on the north by Alhambra Avenue; south, 25th Street; east, Indiana Avenue; and west, Figueroa Street
.
Dorsey was considered a liberal and a progressive. In his few weeks on the council, he was able to speak once at a gathering of property owners and businessmen on the need for a junior college in East Los Angeles
"to save students' transportation time and to lessen the traffic accident toll."
His life
Dorsey was born July 10, 1904, in East Los AngelesEast Los Angeles (region)
East Los Angeles is the portion of the City of Los Angeles that lies east of Downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles River and the unincorporated areas of Lincoln Heights, west of the San Gabriel Valley, East Los Angeles and City Terrace, south of Cypress Park, and north of Vernon, California and...
, the son of William Edward Dorsey of Pennellville, New York
Pennellville, New York
Pennellville is a hamlet in Oswego County, New York, United States. It is located in the Town of Schroeppel. Its ZIP Code is 13132. Elevation is 413 feet above Mean Sea Level.-History:...
, and Berdena Cecelia Dales of Ohio. His father and grandfather were Los Angeles city police officers, and he was a nephew of Susan M. Dorsey
Susan Miller Dorsey
Susan Miller Dorsey served as the superintendent of the Los Angeles City Schools from 1920 to 1929.-Biography:...
, noted Los Angeles educator. He was educated in L.A. public schools in the Hollenbeck Heights district and graduated from Lincoln High School, after which, financing himself with odd jobs
Odd Jobs
Odd Jobs is an American comedy film produced by TriStar Pictures and HBO Films, and originally released to movie theatres in 1986.- Cast :* Paul Reiser - Max* Robert Townsend - Dwight...
, he studied commercial law, banking and accounting and civil
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and hydraulic engineering
Hydraulic engineering
This article is about civil engineering. For the mechanical engineering discipline see Hydraulic machineryHydraulic engineering as a sub-discipline of civil engineering is concerned with the flow and conveyance of fluids, principally water and sewage. One feature of these systems is the extensive...
at the American Institute
American Institute
The American Institute of the City of New York was an organization to promote, by means of exhibitions and fairs, the interests of agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and arts in New York State and the United States.-History:...
in Los Angeles.
For 18 months he was "in charge of investigation" on the West Coast for the U.S. Treasury Department, and then for five years he was with the Bureau of Water and Power
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is the largest municipal utility in the United States, serving over four million residents. It was founded in 1902 to supply water and electricity to residents and businesses in Los Angeles and surrounding communities...
, when he was superintendent of construction, street, storm-drain and improvement work.
He was married in 1930 to Edith Irene Wallin of Minnesota. They had two sons, Howard Edward Jr. and Leroy.
He was a member of the 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...
and the International Footprinters Association. He was a Protestant and a Democrat. His hobbies were fishing, golf and tennis. He lived at 2215 East Second Street in Boyle Heights.
Dorsey developed a "pre-delinquent detail program" used by the Los Angeles Police Department and involving "elimination from police records of first offences [sic] of a minor nature, voluntary probation and a cooperative remedial and adjustment program with a social agency." It was said that police officers from other cities were sent to Los Angeles to study its application.
His death
Dorsey, 33, was killed in a "flaming automobile plunge" on August 7, 1937, when the car he was driving went over a 1,600-foot cliff at the edge of Rim of the World Highway in the Angeles National ForestAngeles National Forest
The Angeles National Forest of the U.S. National Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, southern California. It was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel...
on the way to Big Bear Valley
Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is a reservoir in the San Bernardino Mountains, in San Bernardino County, California, United States. At a surface elevation of , it has an east-west length of approximately 7 miles and is approximately 2.5 miles at its widest measurement, though the lake's width mostly averages a...
. "Forty-foot skid marks . . . indicated that Dorsey apparently lost control of his machine." It went over a seven-foot embankment and into "one of the steepest canyons in the mountain area." The councilman's body was "flung out approximately 1,000 feet down the canyon wall." Trees were set alight by the burning gasoline, attracting the attention of motorists who notified authorities, who relied on a squad of California Conservation Corps youths to fight the blaze.
Dorsey was accompanied by Marion Gertrude Lonabaugh, 37, secretary to Councilman John W. Baumgartner; she died two hours after the accident.
A funeral service at Calvary Baptist Church conducted by H.M.S. Richards of the radio Voice of Prophecy
Voice Of Prophecy
The Voice Of Prophecy is a long-running Seventh-day Adventist religious radio broadcast founded in 1929 by H.M.S. Richards, Sr.. Initially aired on a single radio station in Los Angeles it has since grown to numerous stations throughout the United States and Canada and more recently has begun...
attracted some thousand mourners. Burial followed in Evergreen Cemetery.
City Council
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1935In 1933, Dorsey was the manager of the unsuccessful campaign by Winfred J. Sanborn
Winfred J. Sanborn
Winfred Joseph Sanborn. known as Winfred J. Sanborn, was on the Los Angeles City Council under an at-large election system from 1919 until a new city charter was adopted in 1925, when representation was changed to a fifteen-district system. Sanborn served the new Ninth District from 1925 until...
for election to the Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
in the 9th Councilmanic District
Los Angeles City Council District 9
Los Angeles City Council District 9 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council. The Ninth District encompasses the western section of Downtown Los Angeles and much of South Los Angeles. The current council member is Jan Perry....
against George W.C. Baker, and in 1935 Dorsey was a candidate himself for the same seat, losing to Parley Parker Christensen. He ran again in 1937, beating Jack Y. Berman in the runoff election "by a comfortable lead."
In the mid-1930s, the 9th District was generally bounded on the north by Alhambra Avenue; south, 25th Street; east, Indiana Avenue; and west, Figueroa Street
Figueroa Street
Figueroa Street is a street in Los Angeles County, California named for General José Figueroa , governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835, who oversaw the secularization of the missions of California...
.
Dorsey was considered a liberal and a progressive. In his few weeks on the council, he was able to speak once at a gathering of property owners and businessmen on the need for a junior college in East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles College
East Los Angeles College is a community college of the Los Angeles Community College District in the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park. Fourteen communities comprise its primary service area...
"to save students' transportation time and to lessen the traffic accident toll."