Los Angeles County
Biographies
PRESTON HOTCHKIS
Preston Hotchkis, insurance executive, was born June 19, 1893, in Los Angeles, California; son of Finlay Montgomery and Flora Cornelia (Preston) Hotchkis.
Received the B.A. degree from the University of California I 1916; graduate of the University of Southern California Law School, 1916-17, and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1920.
From 1919 to 1925 Mr. Hotchkis was assistant secretary and later secretary to California Delta Farms, Inc., Los Angeles. Associated in founding the Pacific Finance Corporation in 1920, Pacific Indemnity Company in 1926, Consolidated Steel Corporation in 1929, and Central Business Properties, Inc. (president) in 1929; organized the Founders' Insurance Company (vice chairman) in 1946.
Mr. Hotchkis is director of the Blue Diamond corporation, Ltd., Fred H. Bixby Co., California Trust Company, Pacific Mutual Life Insurance, Pacific T.& T. Company, Grand Central Garage Company; Yosemite Park and Curry Co.; Councilman for City of San Marino, Trustee of Southwest Museum of California; Trustee, Good Hope Hospital Assn.; Junior Republican; and was regent of University, 1935-36.
Member of State of California Reconstruction and Reemployment Commission, Governor's Tax Committee, 1942; chairman of Navy Relief Society Campaign for Southern California (received citation from Secretary of Navy), 1942; chairman of War Chest Campaign for Greater Los Angeles Area (received citation from War Chest), 1945. Member of Training Within Industry Committee of War Manpower Board for Southern California, 1942-45 (received citation from War Manpower Board); member of War Finance Committee of United States Treasury Department for California, 1942-45 (received citation from Treasury Department. Delegate to Republican National Convention (California representative on resolutions committee), Philadelphia, 1940, and Chicago, 1944; alternate, Chicago, 1952.
During World War I, Mr. Hotchkis served as seaman with the United States Navy in 1917 and was commissioned ensign in 1918.
Transcribed
3-8-15 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Eminent Californians 1953, by Lee E. Johnson
& C. W. Taylor, Page 584. C. W.
Taylor Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2015 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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