San
Joaquin County
Biographies
GERALD BEATTY WALLACE
A man unusually posted in all that
pertains to his chosen profession is Gerald Beatty Wallace, whose natural
endowments together with a pleasing personality make him very acceptable to the
community which he has selected for his permanent home. His practice as an attorney and activities in
the political field are well known; and he has been a prominent factor in the
progress of the beautiful city of Stockton.
He was born in Eureka, Eureka County, Nevada, on January 28, 1891, a son
of the late Hon. Robert M. Beatty, at one time attorney general of Nevada, who
was a native of Ohio. His mother’s
maiden name was Mary E. Arnhart, and she was born in
Missouri. After the death of his father,
his mother married Hon. C. C. Wallace of Nevada, a prominent politician of that
state, who died when his stepson was ten years old. When he was one year old, his mother, who is
now residing in Stockton with him, removed to Nevada City, California, where he
was educated in the grammar and high schools, graduating from high school in
1909. Four years later, in 1913 he was
graduated from the University of California with the degree of Bachelor of
Letters, majoring in jurisprudence and political science; then three years of
post graduate work earned him the degree of Master of Arts from the department
of political science and Juris Doctor from the school of jurisprudence. During his years in college, he was active in
the affairs of the University and the University Y. M. C. A.; he was the winner
of the first prize for delivering the best oration on the liquor problem; a
member of the university rifle team; assistant in the department of political
science; assistant to the dean of the summer session; and also author of a
master’s thesis on the teaching of American government and of law notes on
evidence, equity and public law, published in the California Law Review.
He began the practice of his
profession with the law firm of Lilienthal, McKinstry
& Raymond in San Francisco; in 1918 he located in Stockton and was
associated with Arthur L. Levinsky; later with Thomas
S. Louttit; then he engaged in independent practice
of the law for two years. In May, 1921,
he was appointed United States Court Commissioner for the Northern District of
California. He is now a member of the
law firm of Foltz, Rendon & Wallace, which has
its main offices in the Wilhoit Building in Stockton and branch offices in
Lodi, Manteca, Ripon and Tracy. Since
coming to Stockton, Judge Wallace has been unusually active in civic and commercial
affairs of the city and county. He has
served as a lecturer in commercial law for the Extension Division of the
University of California; as well as instructor in political science and public
speaking for the Extension Division; legal advisor for the San Joaquin County
Farm Bureau; secretary and attorney for the Better Business Bureau of the
Stockton Advertising Club, instructor in commercial law and public speaking in
the Stockton evening high school; special lecturer of the Blackstone Institute
of Chicago; associate lecturer for the American City Bureau; secretary for the
Stockton district council, California Alumni Association; founder and lecturer
for the Stockton Law School and assistant secretary of the Stockton Golf and
Country Club. He was one of the
organizers and the first secretary of the Stockton Lions Club, and also deputy
district governor for California and Nevada for the International Association
of Lions Clubs. He has also lectured on
political science in the Stockton College of Commerce. During the late war, he was one of the four
minute men; member of the Legal Advisory Boards in San Francisco, Alameda and
San Joaquin counties, and manager of the Stockton branch of the military bureau
of the University of California, being in charge of recruiting there for all
branches of the army and navy under the jurisdiction of the U. W. War
Department. In recent state and national
elections, he has been a speaker and manager for several candidates. In his political views he is a
Republican. He is an enthusiastic member
of the legal profession and is affiliated with the San Joaquin County,
California, and American Bar Associations.
Fraternally he is a member of Delta Lodge No. 471, F. & A. M., and
Homo Chapter No. 50, O. E. S. He is a
member of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church of Stockton. A director of the First National Bank of
Ripon, Judge Wallace has always taken a constructive interest in matters
pertaining to the advancement and progress of the community, is rated as one of
its most dependable citizens and is held in the highest esteem.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
534. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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