Los
Angeles County
Biographies
WALTER FRANCIS HAAS
Time has ripened the ability of
Walter F. Haas, who has engaged in the practice of law in Los Angeles for more
than four decades, becoming recognized as one of the ablest members of his
profession in southern California. He
was born in California, Moniteau County, Missouri, November 12, 1869, a son of
John B. and Lena W. (Bruere)
Haas, and acquired his early education in his native town. On May 30, 1884, at the age of fifteen, he
came to California with his parents, who settled in Los Angeles, and here he
completed his high school course.
Having determined to qualify for the
legal profession, Mr. Haas entered the office of the law firm of Houghton,
Silent & Campbell, Los Angeles attorneys, who directed his study of Kent
and Blackstone. On the 7th of
April, 1891, he passed an examination before the Supreme Court of California
and in the following year was admitted to practice in the federal courts. Since his admission to the bar, Mr. Haas has
followed his profession in Los Angeles with ever increasing success, due to his
clear understanding of the principles of jurisprudence and ability to present
his cause in the strongest possible light.
While a general practitioner, he gives his attention chiefly to
litigation involving water rights and is considered an expert in that branch of
legal service. He is attorney for a
number of large corporations and has appeared as counsel in many of the
important cases tried in the courts of this district. He is a conscientious, tireless worker and
has never lost an hour through sickness during the period of his practice
here. During 1899 and 1900 he was city
attorney of Los Angeles, carefully safeguarding the legal interests of the
municipality. He also served for six
years at city attorney of Monrovia and for a year represented both Monrovia and
Alhambra in that capacity. In 1901 he
formed a partnership with Frank Garrett and in 1906 they were joined by Harry
L. Dunnigan. Since the death of Mr.
Garrett in 1911 the firm has been Haas & Dunnigan, whose offices are
situated in the Citizens National Bank Building at 453 South Spring
Street. A forceful executive, Mr. Haas
has wisely and successfully administered business and financial interests of
importance. He has served as president
of the Tampico Land, Lumber & Development Company and the Fidelia Investment Company; vice president of the C. J. Kubach Company; and a director of the K. & K. Brick
Company and the Guaranty Trust & Savings Bank. His name now appears on the directorate of
the Security-First National Trust & Savings Bank, the successor of the
German-American Bank, of which he was a director for twenty-seven years.
Mr. Haas resides at Alhambra in a
beautiful hollow tile concrete home erected for him a number of years ago. The honorary thirty-third degree has been
conferred upon him in recognition of his services in behalf of the Masonic
fraternity. In October, 1915, he was
made a knight commander of the Court of Honor by the Supreme Council of the
Scottish Rite at Washington, D. C. For many years he has served on the committee
on grievances and appeals of the Grand Lodge of the state of California. He is a past master of Palestine Lodge, No.
351, F. & A. M., and a noble of Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic
Shrine. Enjoying the social side of
life, Mr. Haas has membership in the Masonic Club, the Gamut Club, the Union
League Club and the Jonathan Club. His public
spirit is expressed through his connection with the Los Angeles Chamber of
Commerce. However, his interest centers
in his profession and his affiliations are with the Los Angeles County Bar
Association, the California State Bar Association and the American Bar
Association. Throughout his career he
has followed the course sanctioned by conscience, honor and good judgment and
his professional colleagues and the general public speak of him in terms of
high regard.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
California of the South Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty,
Pages 767-769, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES