Los Angeles
County
Biographies
CARL C. COURTNEY
An
exceptionally able and well qualified man for the position of Postmaster of
Alhambra is Mr. Carl C. Courtney.
For
many years before his transfer to his present post Mr. Courtney had been with
the Post Office Department in many kinds of service, which led to his promotion
to his present important position.
He
took his first job in 1925 in the post office in Des Moines, Iowa. Starting in 1928 as a sub-clerk in the Los
Angeles post office, he became a regular clerk in 1930 and progressed by
successive promotions, first as a clerk in charge in 1949, then foreman of the
mails in 1951, general foreman of the mails in 1956 and acting postmaster until
he became postmaster of Alhambra in 1961.
Born
in Milo, Iowa, on December 25, 1901, in a house which is still standing, Mr.
Courtney is one of three children of Fred Charles Courtney and Mrs. Ethel
(Walker) Courtney. The family history of
Mr. Courtney’s mother can be traced back to John Gude,
who was knighted in 1066.
The
son of a man who was a farmer and dealt in real estate, Mr. Courtney received
his elementary education in Milo, Iowa, and graduated from high school
there. He attended the University of
Iowa for one year.
In
1928 he came to California and married Helen Barbara Daugherty on Christmas Day
in 1928, at the home of the bride’s grandparents in Monterey Park.
Mrs.
Courtney was born in the same town, Milo, Iowa.
She is active in church and P.T.A. work.
Son
Jack, who is with Arden’s, lives in Rosemead with his wife and two
children. Daughter Betty Elzene (Mrs. Robert J.) Graese, has three
children. The Graese
family lives in Des Moines, Iowa. Son
Don William is married and lives with his wife and child in Arlington,
California. He is in the sales
profession. Son Carl Fredrick lives with
his wife and two children in Culver City, California. He is associated with the Automobile Club of
Southern California.
During
World War II, Mr. Courtney was active in Civil Defense work for four years and
in P.T.A. work in Monterey Park for three years.
In
line with his work, he was a member of the National Association of Post Office
Clerks for twenty-two years and for eleven years was a member of Branch 39 in
Los Angeles of the National Association of Postal Supervisors.
Until
May of 1961, he was on the Postmasters Training Committee, the second largest
committee in the Los Angeles Post Office.
Active
in civic and service organizations, Mr. Courtney is a member of the Alhambra
Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club of Alhambra, and was appointed to the
board of directors of the Alhambra United Fund.
Mr.
and Mrs. Courtney are active members of the Alhambra Friends Community Church.
Mr.
Courtney is an enthusiastic stamp collector and enjoys travelling.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 496-498, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES