Los Angeles County
Biographies
MEREDITH
C. JOHNS
An
all-automotive family is that of Meredith C. Johns, owner of the Monterey
Motors. His wife, Helen, who has a
fervent interest in her husband’s work, is one of the very few women to be
graduated from an automotive specialist school.
Their sons, Edward Duane and David Eugene, who have received diplomas
from numerous automotive schools, are also associated with their father in the
family business.
Mr.
Johns was born on November 25, 1914, in Blair, Nebraska, the son of Samuel Jay
and Lena (Johnson) Johns, where the senior Mr. Johns was a carpenter. Johnny Johns, as he is known locally,
attended schools in Nebraska and Wichita High School East, in Kansas. His first position was with the American Gear
Company in Wichita, from 1933 until 1935.
For the next two years he was engaged in various types of automotive
work in Omaha.
In
1937 Mr. Johns became associated with Omar Bakeries, servicing trucks in Omaha
and Milwaukee. Two years after joining
the White Truck Company, he was transferred to Los Angeles in 1943, immediately
selecting Monterey Park as his home.
Later he worked for the Wilshire Oil Company in their truck maintenance
division before going into the automobile repair business for himself at 140
East Garvey Avenue in Monterey Park in 1946.
Due
to the expansion of his business, which has increased several times since it
was started; Mr. Johns built his own building at 435 South Garfield Avenue in
Monterey Park, where his business is presently located.
It
is Mr. Johns’ great satisfaction that he was a member of the Monterey Park
Lions Club when a group of members in this organization originated the White
Cane Day, a project which is now an international project for Lions Clubs all
over the world. In the early days of
this undertaking, canes were made at his shop for two years, and later Mr.
Johns and a fellow Lion designed and built the machine that makes the cane
automatically. Mr. Johns has been a
member of the Monterey Park Lions Club since 1948, has held several offices,
and served as president of the organization in 1954-55.
An
industrious member of the Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Johns has
served on its board of directors. A
charter member of the San Gabriel Valley Unit of the Independent Garage Owners’
Association, Mr. Johns was president of the unit for three terms and has served
on the board of directors of this organization in various capacities. He helped with the construction of the Memorial
Bowl in Monterey Park and served on the Bowl Committee for nine years. A member of the First Christian Church of
Alhambra, he is also affiliated with the International Order of Foresters.
Mr.
Johns married Miss Helen K. Woodring on May 13, 1934,
in Wichita, Kansas. Mrs. Johns was a
charter member of the Monterey Soroptimist Club and has been active in the
Parent-Teachers’ Association while her sons were in school. During World War II Mrs. Johns worked in an
aircraft plant, her contribution to the war effort.
Mr.
and Mrs. Johns have three children:
Edward Duane, who was recently married to Miss Gayle Johnston of San
Gabriel; Mrs. James (Christa Arlene) Throne, who resides in Monterey Park; and
David Eugene, who lives at home. All
three are graduates of Mark Keppel High School.
An
enthusiastic supporter of his community, Mr. Johns is an avid bowler and bowls
on the Lions Club team. He also
maintains racing motorcycles, which his sons ride, with much success, as is
evidenced by the many trophies they have on display at their place of
business. The eldest son also drives
midget racers in competition, and Mr. Johns and his younger son have an
additional hobby, flying.
Transcribed
by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Historical Volume &
Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel &
Temple City, by Robert P. Studer, Pages 370-371,
Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California.
1962.
© 2012 V.
Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES