Los Angeles
County
Biographies
TAKASHI
(TAXI) KISHI
Mr.
Takashi Kishi, better known to his friends at Taxi, is the owner and operator
of The Highway Nursery, the oldest single family owned nursery in the San
Gabriel Valley.
Mr.
Kishi is one of the few native born Alhambran’s, and is the son of Frank and
Nora Kishi. He was born in the year
1916.
Mr.
Kishi attended Ramona Grammar School and later attended and graduated from
Alhambra High School in 1935. Following
his graduation, Mr. Kishi attended Pasadena Junior College, graduating in
1937. While at Pasadena Junior College,
Mr. Kishi majored in Botany and Horticulture.
After
leaving school he became associated with his uncle in Glendale, California, in
the nursery business. Mr. Kishi moved
his business activities back to Alhambra in 1939, where he took over his
father’s business. Originally started in
1926, the nursery business was called the Ocean to Ocean Highway Nursery, which
was later to be named the Lincoln Highway Nursery, and which has been changed
to the present name of The Highway Nursery.
It
is interesting to note, that the nursery was actively doing business before
Valley Boulevard, the street in front of the business, had curbs or sidewalks.
On
June 6, 1942, Taxi Kishi married Miss Chiyeko Mikuriya. They are the proud parents of one daughter,
Karen Taka, who was born in 1944. Mrs.
Kishi is very active in helping her husband operate the family business.
Mr.
Kishi is a member and past secretary of the Alhambra Lions Club and for the
past six years has been very active in many civic activities of this
organization. He is a member of the
Alhambra Chamber of Commerce and of the Coterian
Social Club of Pasadena, which has centered its activities around
little league baseball. The Kishi family
is affiliated with the First Presbyterian Church of Alhambra.
The
Highway Nursery is located at 1245 West Valley Boulevard in Alhambra. Mr. Kishi is a member of the Nurserymen’s
Association of California.
When
he is not busy working at his place of business, Mr. Kishi enjoys a good game
of golf and tries to play at least once a week.
He also likes to fish when time permits.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 675-677, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES