Alameda
County
Biographies
WILLIE
OSBURN
Willie Osburn, owner of the American Brass & Copper Co., was
born in Willard, Kansas on October 16, 1894; the son of Delaney and Melvina Jane (Lane) Osburn.
Graduated from Topeka (Kansas) College of Business in 1915. Married Margaret
Jack Greathead October 16, 1924. Has two children,
Jacqueline (Mrs. Edward R. Haldan) and Wylie Howard.
Mr. Osburn
worked in the accounting department of the Rock Island Railroad 1915-17; served
with the United States Navy from 1917 to 1920; was chief clerk for the United
States Government 1920-22; general manager for Learner & Rosenthal 1922-25;
has been owner of the American Brass & Copper Company, Oakland, California,
since 1925.
He is president, Board of Trustees
of the California College of Arts & Crafts; president Oakland Salvation
Army Advisory Board; vice president, Northern California-Western Nevada Council
of Churches; director of the Oakland Community Chest; East Bay United Fund;
Oakland Chamber of Commerce; Oakland YMCA; Crippled Children’s Society; Oakland
Council of Churches; past president of the Oakland Rotary Club; past district
governor Rotary International; past president of the Oakland Boys’ Club; Pan
American Association; California Safety Association; Eastbay Chapter National
Safety Council; Oakland Wholesale Credit Association; trustee of the Hahnemann
Hospital and Hahnemann Foundation; former vice chairman, Oakland Housing
Authority; campaign chairman, Red Cross 1946; Heart Fund 1951.
He was named Man of the Year by the
Inter-Club Service Council in 1949. He is a Republican, Episcopalian, life
member Knights Templar, 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, Shriner and Legion of Honor. He is a member of the Rotary
Club of Oakland, Commonwealth Club, Athens Athletic Club, Athenian-Nile Club,
Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, 100 Club and the Orinda Country Club.
Home: 6175 Acacia Avenue, Oakland, California.
Offices: 1920 Union Street, Oakland, California.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Eminent Californians 1953”,
by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Page 317, C. W. Taylor
Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.
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