Los Angeles
County
Biographies
HAROLD RAYMOND LUTES, O. D.
Enjoying
the confidence and respect of his patients and colleagues, Dr. Harold Raymond
Lutes has achieved an important position in the community, not only in his
profession as an Optometrist, but also for his inventive genius. He holds many patents on medical, optical and
photographic devices, is well known for his scientific work in these fields,
and has 57 major inventions to his credit.
He is the author of articles in Optometric trade publications. The Optometric Weekly of November 10, 1960,
published a story and award for Dr. Lutes’ contribution to Stereo Photography.
Dr.
Lutes has the distinction of being honored with Associate Membership in the
largest photographic organization in the world, the Photographic Society of
America. In 1958 he received the Service
Award from the same organization and in 1960 the Realist Award for “Greatest
Contribution to Stereo Photography and Vision”.
These contributions include the design of many photographic instruments
and processes for stereo vision and photography. Dr. Lutes designed “The Triad”, the only
stereo slide projector commercially available in this country. He was recently given Fellowship with the
Southern California Council of Camera Clubs, which is the highest award given.
During
the last two years, Dr. Lutes has given much attention to contact lens
research, both in fitting and manufacturing processes. During his 18 years of practice, he has
fitted hundreds of patients with contact lenses, and he applies his scientific
knowledge to the design for each individual case. He has designed many surgical instruments for
the Huntington Hospital Research Foundation.
Since
1950 Dr. Lutes has owned and operated the H. L. Instrument Company in South
Pasadena, which was organized for research and manufacturing of photographic,
medical and optical equipment. At the Indenticolor Laboratories, another one of Dr. Lutes’
scientific enterprises, he produces color slide duplicates for business,
education institutions and industry.
Born
in Christopher, Illinois, on April 20, 1916, Dr. Lutes is the son of Mr.
Russell Raymond and Mrs. Minnie B. (Bray) Lutes, who live in Santa Ana,
California. Dr. Lutes received his first
technical training in photography and his inquisitiveness about the subject
matter of photography and optics from his father, who is a well known portrait
photographer, and has been interested in photography for 60 years. The father of Dr. Lutes has been an active
member of the Methodist Church for many years, and helped to found the
Methodist Organization “The Methodist Men”, the plans for which were first
started in the living room of his home.
The organization is now worldwide.
The mother of Dr. Lutes is also an ardent supporter of the Methodist
Church, and has done church work in Santa Ana since 1921.
Dr.
Lutes’ family moved to Santa Ana in 1921 where he attended grade and high
school. He continued his education at
Santa Ana College, and graduated from Los Angeles College of Optometry in
1938. He took a summer course in
Psychological Optics at Ohio State University and extension courses at the
University of Southern California and the University of California in Los
Angeles in Engineering.
After
termination of his service during World War II in the Army Signal Corps from
1942 to 1943, Dr. Lutes set up practice in the same block on South Garfield
Avenue in Alhambra, where he now maintains his professional offices at 35 South
Garfield Avenue in Alhambra.
Dr.
Lutes married Dorothy J. Johns in the Presbyterian Church in La Crescenta on
October 21, 1944. Mrs. Lutes, the
daughter of Dr. L. Johns, prominent dentist and pioneer of Montrose,
California, belongs to the women’s organization of the Kiwanis Club, and is
past president of the ladies’ auxiliary of the San Gabriel Valley Optometric
Organization. Dr. and Mrs. Lutes have
two children, a daughter Nancy Lutes, aged 11, and a son, William Harold Lutes,
aged 6. Both attend Willard Elementary
School in Pasadena.
Dr.
Lutes is past president of the South Pasadena Kiwanis Club, and past president
of the San Gabriel Valley Optometric Association.
The
hobbies Dr. Lutes enjoys are photography, hi-fi music recording and medical
research work.
His
philosophy of life is “improve living” by scientific research.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 522-524, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES