About

History:

Ray L. Chesebro, who lived here in 1940, was a 20th Century police judge and city attorney in Los Angeles who became known and commended throughout the nation.

Chesebro was born in Minnesota and he came to California in 1904. Chesebro worked as a telegrapher for the Santa Fe Railroad and as a secretary before resettling in San Pedro, California. He was the manager of an annexation committee that successfully campaigned to annex a shoestring strip connecting Los Angeles with the harbor-front cities of San Pedro and Wilmington. He next became secretary or assistant secretary in the Los Angeles County Good Roads Association and organized a campaign on behalf of paving the roadways in Los Angeles County. In July 1907 he was named secretary of a new County Highway Commission.

He was admitted to the bar in 1909. For two years Chesebro was in private practice until he was appointed a police judge in 1911. He then successfully faced the voters in 1914 and 1918. He did not stand for reelection in 1922. He was in private practice again until 1933, when he was elected city attorney. He was afterward reelected in the primaries by heavy majorities four times.

Of his time as city attorney, the Los Angeles Times reported that Chesebro “completely reorganized the office with an eye toward economy and cut costs nearly a quarter in the first four years. The appointive office of City Prosecutor, formerly a political plum, was abolished and its functions taken over by the City Attorney’s office. For the first time, he created a criminal division in the office.”

Chesebro’s legal work in fields like zoning, public works, bond issues, water supplies, Federal-municipal relations, loyalty oaths and control of tidelands resources, was known throughout the nation and widely commended. Described as “a major figure in the local political scene,” he retired in July 1953. After his retirement, he was honored by the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers for “setting an example of the way a City Attorney’s office should be run” with a citation that read: “In a city where tremendous increases of population created problems of vast magnitude, his solutions to new legal questions will stand forever as a monument.” (Source: Wikipedia 2016)

1940 Census:
5531 Red Oak Drive (Value $15,000): 1) Ray L. Chesebro, head of household; white married male 59 years of age; born in Minnesota; chief attorney, Los Angeles City; earns more than $5,000. 2) Ada B. Chesebro, wife; white married female 53 years of age; born in Nebraska; not working. 3) Marvin M. Chesebro, son; white single male 26 years of age; born in California; attorney, LA City; earns $3,000. 4) Geraldine Chesebro, daughter; white single female 25 years of age; born in California; not working. 5) Ruth M. Douglas, servant; Negro single female 25 years of age; born in New York; maid, private home; earns $300.