Los Angeles
County
Biographies
SAMUEL
MOODY HASKINS
A
notable figure in the legal profession of Los Angeles and southern California
is Samuel Moody Haskins, who has won wide recognition not only as an able
counselor, but as a businessman of extraordinary capabilities. In the practice of law, he is the senior
member of the firm of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, and in addition to this
professional affiliation he is now president of the Los Angeles Railway
Corporation, which position he acquired in the year 1932, at which time he
succeeded the late Mr. George J. Kuhrts.
The
birth of Samuel M. Haskins occurred in Salt Lake City, Utah, January 20, 1872,
and he is a son of Thomas W. and Frances (Austin) Haskins. Mr. Haskins completed his high school
education in Los Angeles, then took up his higher
studies at the University of California, which conferred upon him the degree of
Bachelor of Arts in 1893. Two years
later, after preparation for his chosen profession, he was admitted to the
California bar and immediately took up active practice in Los Angeles. During the period from 1897 to 1903, he acted
as clerk of the city council, but at the expiration of this time resumed his
legal practice with the firm of Dunn and Crutcher. In 1908 he became a member of the firm of
Bicknell, Gibson, Trask, Dunn and Crutcher, which later became Gibson, Trask,
Dunn and Crutcher, and is now known as Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher and of which,
as noted previously, Mr. Haskins is the senior member. This is one of the largest and most important
law firms in southern California, has conducted a very large amount of
important litigation during its existence, and represents many outstanding
business corporations, among them being the Los Angeles Railway Corporation,
Huntington Land and Improvement Company, Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Company, Los Angeles Junction Railway Company, and the Arabella
D. and H. E. Huntington estates. Mr.
Haskins is known as a lawyer of high ethical ideals in the conduct of his work
and holds the respect and admiration of his colleagues as well as of those whom
he has represented in many courts. He is
a member of the Los Angeles County, the California State, and the American bar
associations.
On
April 15, 1902, Mr. Haskins was united in marriage to Miss Elisa Bonsall, and to them have been born three children,
namely: Samuel M., Jr., Barbara and
Janet.
Mr.
Haskins’ interest in club and social life of his home city is characteristic of
the democratic attitude he has always maintained toward his fellow men. He is a member of the California Club, the
University Club, the Los Angeles Country Club, the Midwick Country Club, the
Pacific Union and Bohemian Clubs of San Francisco. He has given hearty cooperation to local
civic enterprises which he considered of merit, and he is known as a man of
progressive ideas, altogether a most acceptable type of American citizen.
Transcribed
by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 307-308,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V.
Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES