Los Angeles
County
Biographies
BOYD KERN
Boyd
Kern is one of the leading residents of the Alhambra area, having served for
seventeen years as president of one of the city’s most successful industrial
firms.
A
native of Elkhart, Indiana, Mr. Kern was born on January 24, 1892 to William E.
and Izora (Hunter) Kern. He graduated from high school in Elkhart with
a record of never having been absent or tardy during his entire public school
career. He came to Los Angeles in 1911
and completed his schooling at the Holman Business College.
Mr.
Kern got his business start with the Western Gas Engine Corporation of Los
Angeles, then subsequently joined the Layne &
Bowler Corporation of Los Angeles, remaining there for ten years.
In
1923 Mr. Kern joined with J. A. Wintroath and others in the organization of the
Peerless Pump Company in Los Angeles, and six years later they founded Wintroath
Pumps, Inc., here in Alhambra. He became
president of the Alhambra firm in 1940 following the death of Mr.
Wintroath. In 1950 the company was sold
to Worthington Corporation retaining its status as a wholely owned subsidiary
corporation until 1956, at which time it became a division of Worthington
Corporation. Mr. Kern remained as
president of the institution until his retirement in 1957.
In
1916 Mr. Kern married Miss Hannah G. McKernan of
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and they became the parents of three sons, Robert Emmet,
David Eugene and Joseph Philip Donald.
Robert is now deceased. Mrs.
Hannah G. Kern is also deceased and on November 16, 1959, Mr. Kern remarried to
Miss Dorothy R. Cooper of Alhambra.
On
July 1, 1950, Mr. Kern was appointed by Mayor T. D’Arcy Quinn to the Alhambra
City Planning Commission, from which he resigned on July 10, 1961, having
served the last three years as President of the Commission. On July 14, 1961, Mr. Kern was appointed a
director of the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District to serve out the
unexpired term of Mr. Arlin E. Stockberger,
who had resigned due to ill health.
He
is a member of the Rotary Club of Alhambra and past president of that body, a
member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, San Gabriel Country Club and Alhambra
Lodge No. 1328, B.P.O.E. He also holds
directorships in the United Fund of Alhambra, Alhambra District Y.M.C.A. and
the Downtown Business Men’s Association.
He attends Oneonto Congregational Church in
South Pasadena.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Page 652, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES