Los Angeles
County
Biographies
FORREST V. ROUTT
With
the vigor typical of his pioneer ancestors, Forrest V. Routt spent twenty-seven
years, the length of an entire career, as an educator in Alhambra, and then
embarked on another career as superintendent of schools in Martinez,
California, until his retirement in 1950 at the age of sixty-eight. Mr. Routt is quite an authority on
California’s growth, since he came to the state in 1885, at the age of three,
and has lived in three distinct areas of California: Alhambra, or the southern section, Merced, or
the central section, and Martinez, just east of San Francisco Bay, in
California’s northern section.
Born
in Cairo, Missouri, on October 7, 1882, Mr. Routt is the son of John H. and
Sarah D. Routt. Both his grandfathers
were pioneers in the northeastern part of Missouri. His maternal grandfather helped clear the
land on which Moberly, Missouri, now stands; his paternal great-grandfather
fought in the War of 1812. Through the
years other members on both sides of the family were farmers, merchants,
ministers, politicians, physicians, lawyers, and judges. One paternal great-uncle was Governor of
Colorado.
Mr.
Routt graduated from Merced High School and from the University of California
at Berkeley, and took post graduate courses at the University of Southern
California and the University of California.
He started his teaching career at Alhambra High School in 1906, becoming
successively, vice-principal, principal, and in 1925, Superintendent of
Alhambra City Schools, serving in that capacity until July, 1933. After leaving Alhambra he became
superintendent of schools in Martinez, California, for seventeen years. As an administrator he inaugurated home
teaching for the physically handicapped in Alhambra and Martinez, and pioneered
courses in family and neighborhood education which are now widely used
throughout the nation. He does not believe
in mixing school administration with politics, but since his retirement has taken
an active part in the campaigns for some candidates for county offices.
A
past lieutenant-governor of Kiwanis, Forrest Routt is also a past president of
the Alhambra Kiwanis Club, past president of the Martinez Kiwanis Club,
district representative, and accredited representative of Kiwanis International
for organizing new clubs. He was also a
member of the Order of Elks in Alhambra, is a past master in the Masonic Order,
and a past patron of the Order of Eastern Star.
He has been active in various committees of both the Alhambra and
Martinez Chamber of Commerce, active in Boy Scouts in both cities, and past
president of the district Boy Scouts Councils.
He is a past president of the District Executive Board of Red Cross and
is a member of the Martinez Advisory Council of the Salvation Army from which
he received a citation for community service in 1961. Mr. Routt helped organize the first high
school Parent-Teachers’ Association in Alhambra, received an honorary life
membership in the association in 1930, and in Martinez has served as
Parent-Teachers’ Association Americanization chairman. As a member of the Alhambra Presbyterian
Church he was choir director; in Martinez he served on the board of deacons of
the Congregation Church and as moderator of its executive council.
In
relation to his career as an educator, Mr. Routt holds an honorary life
membership in Phi Delta Kappa, in the California Association of School
Administrators, and the California School Business Officials’ Association. He was elected superintendent emeritus of
Martinez Public Schools in 1950. He is a
past president of both the Southern California Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools and the Schoolmasters Club of Southern California, and has
received several awards for leadership.
In
1904, on July 27, Forrest Routt married the former Nellie Cleveland of Yoakum
in Merced, California. Their children
are Rosamond Hazel, Forrest Vincil, Jr., and Hugh
Burt.
Mr.
Routt spends his leisure time in fishing and gardening.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 801-802, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES