Alameda
County
Biographies
LESTER
S. McELWAIN
Lester
S. McElwain, attorney, was born January 1, 1910, at
San Mateo, California; the son of George W. McElwain
and Ethel (Dickson) McElwain, who were born in the
State of New York and Illinois
respectively, and came to California in 1908. Mr. McElwain
received his early education at the San Mateo, California, Central Grammar
School and subsequently graduated from San Mateo Union High School at
Burlingame, California, in June, 1927. He graduated from Stanford University,
A.B. degree (Economics) in June, 1931; graduated from Stanford University Law
School, LL.B. degree, in December, 1934; and was admitted to the California
State and the United States Federal Bars in that year. In the same year Mr. McElwain began the practice of law at Oakland, California,
associating with the law firm of Donahue, Hynes and Hamlin, which subsequently
became Donahue, Richards and Hamlin. He remained with the latter firm,
specializing in trail practice, and actively participated in local, state and
national Junior Chamber of Commerce activities, until January, 1941, when he
volunteered for active duty with the United States Navy.
He served five years in the U. S.
Navy, and upon his discharge with the rank of Commander in December, 1945, he
resumed the practice of law under his own name at Oakland, California, where he
is presently actively engaged in the general practice of the law and the trial
of cases in the civil courts.
Mr. McElwain
is a member of the Alameda County Bar, California State Bar, and American Bar
Associations. He is a Scottish Rite (32nd degree) Mason, being a
member of Yerba Buena Masonic Lodge, Oakland, California, Scottish Rite Bodies,
and the A.A.O.N.M. Shrine, Aahmes Temple, as well as
a member of the B.P.O. Elks, Number 171, Oakland, California. In 1951 he was
master of Yerba Buena Lodge, Number 403, Free and Accepted Masons of the State
of California, and in 1952 he was master of the Oakland Consistory of Oakland
Scottish Rite of Free Masonry.
Mr. McElwain
is a member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Alameda
County and is associated with the American Red Cross (treasurer, Oakland,
California, Chapter 1948), Community Chest, and other welfare activities. He is
a member of the Methodist Church, Phi Sigma Kappa, Phi Alpha Delta (legal),
Oakland Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Athens Athletic Club and
the United States Naval Reserve.
His recreation is found in golf,
photography, hiking and lodge activities.
He married Margrite
Beadle Ludlow February 25, 1944, at Oakland, California, and they have three
sons, Roderick Dudley, born October 7, 1945, Malcolm Stafford, born October 16,
1947, and Douglas Stephen, born November 16, 1950. Their family residence is in
Oakland, California, at 855 Glendome Circle; and Mr. McElwain’s law offices are located in the Broadway Building
at 1419 Broadway, Oakland, California.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Eminent Californians 1953”,
by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Pages 205-206, C. W.
Taylor Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.
BACK TO GOLDEN NUGGET LIBRARY'S ALAMEDA DATABASES