Los Angeles County
Biographies
CARL
BERNARDINO WIRSCHING
Carl Bernardino Wirsching, native son of Los Angeles, has served as commissioner on the board of public works of the city since December, 1929. He was born September 10, 1886, his parents being Robert Ernest and Carlota E. Wirsching, the former born in Saxony, Germany, February 15, 1846, and the latter in Los Angeles, California, December 29, 1852. In the maternal line he comes of Spanish ancestry, being a descendant of the fifth generation of Don Felipe de Neve, founder of the City of the Angels. Mrs. Carlota E. Wirsching is a direct descendant of Feliz, Verdugo and de Neve.
Carl B. Wirsching was graduated from the grammar schools of Los Angeles in 1902 and from the Polytechnic high school of this city in 1906. The degree of Bachelor of Science was conferred upon him by the University of Southern California in 1910, and in 1919 he received the degree of Civil Engineer from the same institution. He worked in the Los Angeles county surveyor’s office from 1910 to 1914 and during the three succeeding years was connected with the Los Angeles county road department. From 1917 until 1920 he served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France as a Major-Corporal of Engineers, Second Division, A.E.F. For two years thereafter he was again identified with the Los Angeles county road department and then from 1922 until 1928 served on the board of public works of the state of California. During 1928-29 he represented the Southern California Rock Products Association in the capacity of executive engineer and in December, 1929, was appointed commissioner on the board of public works in the city of Los Angeles, which he served as president. In February, 1933, he was appointed general manager of the Port of Los Angeles. He specializes in civil engineering and has proved well qualified for the important duties devolving upon him. During the six-year period between 1922 and 1928 he served as associate highway engineer of the state of California.
On the 5th of November, 1913, in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Wirsching was united in marriage to Bess Aileen Cochran, who was here born April 21, 1892, and is of Irish descent. Her parents are Frank P. and Eunice (Johnson) Cochran, the former born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1864, and the latter in San Francisco, California, November 16, 1870. Both are residents of Los Angeles. Mr. and Mrs. Wirsching are the parents of two daughters, Margaret Aileen and Patricia Ann, who reside with them in the family home at 222 North Manhattan place in Los Angeles.
Mr. Wirsching is a republican in politics. His military record is a most creditable one. He served as a major of Second Engineers, Second Division, American Expeditionary Forces, from 1917 until 1919 and received five citations and a meritorious letter from Chief Engineer Black of the American Army. The French government awarded him three decorations, as follows: Croix de Guerre, Silver Star; Croix de Guerre, Bronze Star; and the Verdun Medal. The American government awarded him the Purple Heart and the Order of Silver Star. He is a member of Sunshine Post of the American Legion, the Second Division Association and the Disabled American Veterans of the World war. Fraternally Mr. Wirsching is affiliated with the Masons, belonging to Hollenbeck Lodge, No. 319, of Los Angeles, California; Scottish Rite Cathedral, Los Angeles Consistory; and the Mystic Shrine. He also has membership in Theta Psi fraternity of the University of Southern California, the honorary fraternity, Skull and Dagger, and the national honorary fraternity, Blue Key. He is a member of and served as president of the Alumni of the University of Southern California during 1933-34. In 1931-32 he served as president of the Polytechnic High and was the first person to be made honorary president. He also belongs to the Jonathan Club, the University Club, the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the California Yacht Club, the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Society of American Military Engineers, the Society of Civil Engineers, the American Association of Engineers and the Engineers and Architects Association.
Transcribed
9-23-12 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 328-330,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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