Los Angeles County
Biographies
CAPTAIN BERT
T. MASSEY
Captain Bert T. Massey, chief liquor control officer in District No. 1 in Southern California since January, 1935, is one of the best known and most highly respected peace officers in the west, and is now on leave of absence and eligible for retirement as chief of detectives of the Los Angeles police department. On January 1, 1935, he assumed his present duties as chief liquor control officer with the board of equalization in District No. 1, which comprises Los Angeles county. He was born in Mulberry, Missouri, July 1, 1888, his parents being William T. and Mary (Tyner) Massey, both of whom are deceased. The father devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in the state of Missouri, Kansas and Colorado during his active career.
Bert T. Massey was reared to farm life, completed a high school course at La Cygne, Kansas, and had attained his majority when in 1910 he came to Los Angeles, California, and here began work in the building trades. He was next connected with the fire department of the city from 1911 until 1914 and then entered the police department, in which he was identified with many important developments during twenty years of service. On the 1st of January, 1935, he obtained leave of absence to accept the position of chief liquor control officer in District No. 1, comprising a population of about two and one-half million people. Captain Massey supervises the work of over sixty employes(sic) and is making a splendid record in the efficient and faithful discharge of his important duties.
On the 28th of May, 1933, in Los Angeles, Captain Massey was united in marriage to Miss Effa N. Fator, a native of Idaho who presides with gracious hospitality over their attractive home in the beautiful San Fernando valley. The Captain is a member of the American Legion, Police Post No. 381, having enlisted for service in the World war with the Ninety-first Division. He was later transferred to the Sixth Officers Machine Gun Training School at Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia, and was commissioned second lieutenant. Fraternally he is affiliated with the various Masonic bodies, including Eastgate Lodge No. 290, F.& A.M.; Signet Chapter, No. 57, R.A.M.; Los Angeles Council, No. 11, R.& S.M.; Los Angeles Commandery, No. 9, K.T.; Janniston Grotto, No. 76; and Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and is indeed a worthy exemplar of the beneficent teachings and purposes of the craft, and belongs to the Pace Officers’ Shrine Club.
Transcribed 2-5-13
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
617-618, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2013 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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BIOGRAPHIES