Los Angeles County
Biographies
PAUL
A. TENNYSON
During
his twelve years as an elected city official and public servant, Paul A.
Tennyson has a long list of accomplishments to his credit. Elected to three terms of office, 1940, 1946,
and 1950, Mr. Tennyson served as Police Commissioner, by appointment of Mayor
James Bradshaw.
In
1940 and 1946 political forces within the city tried to force him out of office
by recall. Fortunately for the City of
Monterey Park, the attempts failed.
These underhanded political forces wanted Mr. Tennyson out of the way so
that they could get control of the city, which had a population of 7,000 in
1940. Mr. Tennyson and Mayor Bradshaw
worked closely together and by setting up new books, and taking the decisive
step of launching a strict policy of economy in the city budget, they succeeded
to get Monterey Park out of the red and into the black. They proceeded on a pay as you go budget
basis, instead of the limitless buying for the future which had been in
operation for many years. A definite
budge was set up, and purchases made only as needed. This eliminated entirely the possibility of
graft and corruption of city funds.
Through
extensive research and investigation Mr. Tennyson and Mayor Bradshaw were
responsible for the proper development of a budget which has kept the City of
Monterey Park out of debt. By applying
firm measures, in spite of opposition from all sides, they succeeded to achieve
the vision of their dreams for a new City Hall, Fire
Station and Community Center.
Again,
through Mr. Tennyson’s efforts, a swimming pool was constructed at Barnes Park,
for the enjoyment of the residents of Monterey Park. This was the first Olympic sized pool in the
San Gabriel Valley and to the surprise of many; this project was completed
without allowing the City of Monterey Park to go into debt. Visualizing future needs for Monterey Park,
Mr. Tennyson initiated the move to acquire property for the City of Monterey
from the County of Los Angeles, on which wells were drilled and today these
wells supply the city with a large part of their water needs.
Born
on January 26, 1905, in Olney, Illinois, Paul A. Tennyson is the son of John W.
and Minnie Alice (Gray) Tennyson. His
father was a circuit rider preacher in southern Illinois and Indiana. Mr. Tennyson attended Central Grammar School
and finished his schooling at Olney High School in Olney, Illinois, graduating
in 1922. In the same year, he moved to
Los Angeles, California, and launched his career in the newspaper business, in
the composing room for the Los Angeles Times.
At that time, in 1922, there were only ten employees in the composing
room, and the circulation of the paper was 90,000. Now thirty-nine years later, a staff of 425 employees
is necessary for the increased circulation of over 600,000 daily and one
million Sunday newspapers distributed by the Times-Mirror Company. Mr. Tennyson holds the position of foreman of
the composing room.
He
married Miss Ruth Chinite, in Alhambra, California,
on August 3, 1929. Mrs. Tennyson is
active in Red Cross work, and served on the Board of Directors of the Red
Cross. She was president of the Ynez School Parent Teachers Association for two years, 1944
and 1945. She was a charter member of
the Community Chest and is a member of the Monterey Park Women’s Club. The Tennyson’s are members of the Community
Methodist Church in Monterey Park and both are active in Boy Scout work. Mr. Tennyson is a past member of the
Pasadena-San Gabriel Valley Council and Merit Badge Committee.
Mr. and Mrs. Tennyson, who have two sons, moved to Monterey Park in
1934.
Their eldest son, Todd Tennyson, resides with his wife Eleanor, and two
daughters, Beth Ann and Amy Louise, in Buena Park, California, where he is a
high school teacher. Their second son,
John Tennyson, is a technical sergeant and a career man in the United States
Air Force. He and his wife, Hazel, are
the parents of three daughters, Cynthia, Kathleen, and Jane Marie.
An
active member of the Democratic Party, Mr. Tennyson was on the Los Angeles
County Democratic Central Committee, and was active during the campaign of
Jerry Voorhis for Congress in 1936. A charter member of the Optimist Club of
Monterey Park, he is also affiliated with the Garden Lodge, No. 621 Blue Lodge;
the Montebello Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons; the Knights Templars in
Whittier; and the Al Malaikah Temple in Los Angeles.
Aside
from his continuing interest in the City of Monterey Park, Mr. Tennyson has a
keen and active interest in working with young boys. Over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Tennyson have
had twenty-five boys living in their home and in their care, which they have
considered an enviable experience. Mr.
Tennyson’s hobbies include photography, gardening and hiking.
Transcribed
by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Historical Volume &
Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel &
Temple City, by Robert P. Studer, Pages 404-405,
Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California.
1962.
© 2012 V.
Gerald Iaquinta.
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