Los Angeles
County
Biographies
CHARLES P. CONNER
Charles
P. Conner is one of few native Alhambrans who still reside in this growing
community. A personable young man, Mr.
Conner, at the age of 33 is president of Western Mutual Escrow Corporation, an
escrow firm which was started by his father, Palmer Conner.
Born
on February 27, 1928, in the Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Mr. Conner is the
son of Palmer and Helen M. Conner. He
attended kindergarten at Fremont Grammar School in Alhambra and lower grade
schools in San Gabriel. A student at
Alhambra High School for one semester, he was graduated from San Diego High
School in 1945. In 1947, after attending
Occidental College for one and one-half years, he began his career in title
searching with the Land Title Insurance Company.
In
October, 1948, Mr. Conner enlisted in the United States Air Force, receiving
his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. This enterprising young man was transferred
to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, in February, 1949, where he
instructed military personnel on IBM equipment.
While stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne,
Wyoming, he was in charge of accounting for enlisted personnel.
A
month following his discharge from military service, Mr. Conner went to work
for his father. Beginning on the ground
floor and working up to his present position as President of the largest escrow
business in Alhambra; Mr. Conner is well trained in all phases of the escrow
business, having taken two specialized courses in escrow training. In less than ten years, the Western Mutual
Escrow Company has grown from one branch in 1950, to five branches in 1952, and
to 23 branches in 1961, an escrow corporation having more branches in California
than any other escrow business in the state.
This was an increase of over 200%.
Mr. Conner credits his eighty employees as being the cream of their
profession.
Mr.
Conner married Miss Midge Buchanan in the Chapel at Lowry Air Force Base in
Denver, Colorado, on December 20, 1950.
They have two daughters, Kathleen Ann, age 10, and Judith Rae, age 6,
who are students at Ramona Grammar School in Alhambra.
A
member of the Church of Our Savior in San Gabriel, Mr. Conner has been an
active member of the Alhambra Kiwanis Club since 1943, serving as 2nd
vice-president in 1961. He is also an
active member of the Alhambra Junior Chamber of Commerce, holding the office of
president in 1959-60. In 1960 he
received the Junior Chamber of Commerce Keyman Award
and in 1961 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Junior
Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member
of the J.C.’s Clown Club and has performed in five shows for the Children’s
Hospital. In 1959 Mr. Conner was general
chairman of Alhambra’s Hi Neighbor Week.
A member of the board of directors of the Alhambra YMCA, Mr. Conner is
also a member of the Escrow Institute of California.
Mrs.
Conner is also active in local organizations.
She is a past president of the Alhambra Jayceettes, a member of the
board of directors of Ramona School Parent-Teachers’ Association and is an
active member of the Alhambra Kiwanis Ladies Auxiliary.
Mr.
Conner’s hobbies include his work and when spare time is available, he likes to
fish and hunt.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 667-669, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES