Los Angeles
County
Biographies
CLINTON V. WOODRUFF
A
very civic minded man with a personal interest in Alhambra developed over the
past thirty-two years, Clinton V. Woodruff has been a men’s clothier in
Alhambra since 1929.
Born
in Laramie, Wyoming, on September 14, 1903, Mr. Woodruff is the son of Clinton
H. Woodruff of New York state, who is still living in
Pasadena at the age of eighty-five, and the former Miss Edith Maude Van Arsdale of Cheboygan, Michigan. Mr. Woodruff’s mother passed away in 1949 at
the age of sixty-nine. His father opened
the first Florsheim Shoe Store in Los Angeles at 511 South Spring Street in
1907. The senior Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff
were among the founders in 1911 of the Oneonta Congregational Church in South
Pasadena, which recently had its fiftieth anniversary.
A
resident of California since the spring of 1907, when he was three and a half
years old, Mr. Woodruff received his elementary education in South Pasadena and
graduated from Pasadena High School in 1921.
He attended Oregon State College for four years and the University of
Southern California during the 1923 - 24 school year,
graduating with the Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in
1926.
Mr.
Woodruff opened a men’s clothing store in Alhambra on July 29, 1929, at 7 East
Main Street. From the beginning the
prime factors in his success have been distinguished merchandise and impeccable
service. He now owns Woodruff’s Men’s
Store at 28 West Main Street, at that location since 1932, and Woodruff’s Boy’s
Store at 24 West Main Street, as well as Woodruff’s Women’s Store at 30 West
Main Street. He also is a part owner of
Woodruff’s Men’s Store at 9616 Las Tunas Drive in Temple City. His son, Allen C. Woodruff, is manager of the
well known Alley Shop established in March, 1961; the Alley Shop is part of the
Men’s Store in Alhambra and specializes in traditionally styled men’s clothing.
Chairman
of the board of directors of the merchant’s division of the Alhambra Chamber of
Commerce, Mr. Woodruff has served two terms in this capacity. He also served on the board of directors of
the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce on different occasions for one, two, and three
year terms. He is also past president of
the Southern California Clothiers’ Association; this organization was
established in 1943 as a purchasing group for sixteen large men’s stores in
southern California.
Since
1915 Mr. Woodruff has been a member of the Oneonta Congregational Church in
South Pasadena. A member of the Alhambra
Exchange Club for thirty-two years, he is a past president of that
organization, in 1935 – 1936, as well as a member of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, Alhambra Lodge Number 1328.
While
at Oregon State College, Clinton Woodruff met the former Miss Charlotte Wells
of Portland, Oregon. They were married
on March 1, 1928. Mrs. Woodruff was a
member of the Chi Omega sorority at Oregon State College while Mr. Woodruff was
a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Mrs. Woodruff is presently a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the
Alhambra Community Hospital.
Residents
of Alhambra for thirty-two years, the Woodruff’s are the parents of a daughter,
Joan, who graduated from the University of Arizona, and is married to John C.
Armstrong, formerly of Tucson, Arizona, and now resides in Arcadia; and a son,
Allen C. Woodruff, who graduated from Woodbury College on Wilshire Blvd., Los
Angeles, and attended the University of Colorado for two years. He is married to the former Miss Judy Veenker of Alhambra and they are the parents of two
children: Jennifer, born on November 4,
1958, and Mark, born on December 5, 1957.
The four children of Mr. and Mrs. John C. (Joan) Armstrong are: Rick David, born on June 12, 1953; Jeffery,
born on September 21, 1956; Mindy Sue, born on April 4, 1958; and Becky Ann,
born on September 3, 1960.
A
perennial golf enthusiast, Clinton V. Woodruff also takes time from his many
business and civic obligations to enjoy his family and his grandchildren.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 761-762, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES