Los
Angeles County
Biographies
HUGH J. MCGUIRE
Hugh J. McGuire has served
continuously as a member of the board of public works in Los Angeles since
first appointed thereto on the 14th of July, 1920, and has made a
splendid record in this connection. He
was born on Long Island, New York, August 18, 1861, his parents being Patrick
and Elizabeth (Sweeney) McGuire, the former a railroad employee. The family left the Empire state, going to
Iowa, where Patrick McGuire spent the remainder of his life. His wife died while en route on a visit from
Los Angeles to Philadelphia.
Hugh J. McGuire acquired his
education in the public schools of Iowa and came to Los Angeles, California, in
1884. For a period of eight years he was
employed as a streetcar conductor on the Main Street Line, and in January,
1892, he received municipal appointment to the position of foreman of the
department of streets, thus serving for two years. He then returned to the employ of the street
car company for five and one-half years.
He was elected street superintendent in 1900 and took the office on the
7th of January of the following year, continuing therein for two
years. Thereafter he engaged in business
as a paving, excavating and general contractor and during this period was
identified with many large improvements, doing considerable work in connection
with the old outfall sewer, particularly along Slauson Avenue. On July 14, 1920, he was appointed a member
of the board of public works to complete the unexpired term of the late Lorin A. Handley and on the 1st of January,
1921, was appointed to succeed himself, while on the 14th of
January, 1924, he was elected president of the board of public works. During his tenure of office Mr. McGuire has
seen the beginning and completion of the most extensive improvements undertaken
by the board, including the Second Street Tunnel, extending Hill Street from
Washington to Santa Barbara, the north outfall sewer and Mulholland Drive. Mr. McGuire has saved much money for the
citizens of Los Angeles by always obtaining the lowest paving price and no
breath of suspicion has ever fallen upon him.
His present term expires in 1937.
In Los Angeles, October 23, 1889,
Mr. McGuire was united in marriage to Miss Julia Halsey and they are the
parents of two children, Miles H. and Mary, who married Dr. E. Ray Brownson and has a daughter, Marilyn. Mr. McGuire is a staunch Democrat in politics
and fraternally is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,
the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Woodmen of the World. He has been a resident of Los Angeles for
about a half century and is numbered among its representative and highly
respected citizens.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 333-334, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES