Los Angeles
County
Biographies
HENRY L. McGEE
“Music
hath charms to soothe…” almost everyone.
However, while most people are soothed or cheered or charmed via
recordings and concerts, the Henry L. McGee family makes its own music. Mr. McGee is a violinist who played in a
concert orchestra in Alabama in his youth; Mrs. McGee is a pianist and former
voice teacher who studied opera for five years.
Their daughter, Joan, also enjoys music and singing. In her freshman year, she had the comedy lead
in the college production of “Oklahoma,” and is now singing and writing music
for a local trio. The McGee’s have made
music a part of their lives. As a
traditional highlight of holiday get-togethers with the family, they enjoy
joining aunts, uncles, and cousins in old fashioned song fests around the
piano.
However,
to the McGee’s music is only a delightful avocation. Henry L. McGee is first vice president of
James I. Condie and Associates, Incorporated, a broker member of the Alhambra
board of realtors, and a specialist in income and residential properties. Mrs. McGee is now active in the business
world, being associated with H. V. Nootbaar and
Company. Daughter Joan is working for
her Master of Arts degree in psychology with plans for a career as a clinical
psychologist.
The
former Myrtle E. Van Hooser of Birmingham, Alabama,
became Mrs. Henry McGee in her home city on November 24, 1937. The McGee’s daughter, Joan E., was born in
July of 1940. She attended Park School
and Alhambra High School, graduating from San Gabriel High School. In 1961 she graduated from Pepperdine College
with a Bachelor of Arts degree and is continuing her studies there in the field
of psychology. As an undergraduate, Joan
was a cheerleader and a member of the student board—holding various class and
student body offices. She was also
affiliated with Phi Beta, an honorary fraternity, and the Sigma Phi Gamma
Sorority, now serving as president of that group’s alumnae association.
The
youngest in a family of four boys and two girls, Henry McGee was born in a log
cabin in Millport, Alabama, on September 5, 1905. He is the son of Joseph and Selina Frances
(Black) McGee, both teachers and both Alabamans. His mother passed away recently at the age of
ninety-two. Henry McGee received his
elementary education in Millport, Alabama, graduated from Birmingham High
School, and attended Alabama Christian College.
Before
coming to California in 1938, Mr. McGee was a sales manager for an electric
company in Alabama for six years. From
1938 to 1947 he was employed by Douglas Aircraft Company in its administrative
branch then for nine years was a partner in the McGee and Williams Oil
Distributing Company. His association
with James I. Condie and Associates, Incorporated, began in 1956. The company employs close to twenty people
and has three offices in Alhambra: 600
North Atlantic, 1510 West Valley Boulevard, and 509 North Almansor.
A
member of the Alhambra Church of Christ, Mr. McGee presently holds the highest
lay position in that church, that of chairman of the board of elders, and was
formerly president of the board of trustees.
A
past Scout worker, Mr. McGee is extremely fond of outdoor activities,
especially trout fishing. The McGee’s
are confirmed trailerites, having traveled
extensively in the western United States and Canada.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 649-651, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES