San Francisco County
Biographies
HON. HOMER
R. SPENCE
Hon. Homer R. Spence, who is an associate justice of the state district court of appeals, first district, division number two, has made a brilliant record during the comparatively few years he has served. He was born in San Francisco, California, March 15, 1891, his parents being Clark and Grace H. (Roberts) Spence, natives of Ohio and of San Francisco, respectively. Clark Spence came to this city in the year 1880 and engaged successfully in the wholesale jewelry business. George C. Roberts, the maternal grandfather of Judge Spence, was one of the brave legion which crossed the western plains by covered wagon in 1851.
As a youth, Homer P. Spence attended the grammar schools of San Francisco, and later graduated from high school in Alameda, California. He then took up his classical studies at Stanford University, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1913. His professional training was received in the law department of the same institution, which conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1915, and in the same year he was admitted to the bar. During his collegiate years, he was a frequent contributor to the school publication The Daily Palo Alto and The Stanford Quad. He is now a member of the Stanford National Board. Judge Spence established himself in the general practice of law in San Francisco and in Oakland, and met with notable success from the very start. Displaying an uncommon talent and thorough training for the profession, his reputation grew rapidly. In 1920 he served as a member of the California state legislature from the thirty-fifth district, and he was re-elected in 1922 and 1924. In 1927 he was honored by appointment as secretary to Governor C. C. Young of California, and in the same year the governor appointed him judge of the superior court of Alameda county. He was duly elected to this latter office in 1928. Then, in March, 1930, Governor Young further honored him with the appointment of associate judge of the state district court of appeals, and so efficiently did he fulfill the responsible duties of this office that he was regularly elected in August, 1930. He is a member of the San Francisco, Alameda County and American Bar Associations.
On May 22, 1929, at Diablo, California, Judge Spence was married to Miss Helen Browne, a native of California and a daughter of George C. and Morgenia (Maynard) Browne.
After the United States declared war against Germany in 1917, Judge Spence entered the army and trained at the Presidio of San Francisco, receiving a commission as first lieutenant of field artillery. In January, 1918, he went to France, and there was attached to the French Army at the front. He was an instructor in the artillery officers training camp at Saumur, France, and subsequently served with the Three Hundred and Fourteenth Field Artillery of the Eightieth Division. He is now an active member of the American Legion and has served on its national and state legislative committees.
For many years Judge Spence has been interested in fraternal and club affairs of the bay region. His name is on the membership rolls of Alameda Lodge, No. 1015, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is a past exalted ruler; Halcyon Parlor, No. 146, Native Sons of the Golden West, in Alameda; Oakland Lodge, No. 324, Loyal Order of Moose; the Press Club of Oakland; the Athens Athletic Club, also of Oakland, and the Commonwealth Club of California. He has been identified politically with the republican party. Horseback riding, golf, hunting and fishing have constituted his favorite forms of recreation.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 40-42.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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