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Dean, Fred (audio interview #6 of 6)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This is the final interview and it was conducted in Dean's Long Beach home. 6/1/1982
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- 2020-10-21
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- *** File: cbfdean9.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-8:58)... June 3, 1982 Dean was honored for his service to the Optimist Club. The event grew into Fred S. Dean Day for the city of Long Beach and the County of Los Angeles. A list of all of Dean's charitable activities were read and many of his friends and members of the club were present. He was given a plaque from the Pacific Southwest District where he served as governor. Dean started the most Optimist Clubs in Long Beach during his time as governor. He received a scroll, pen and gavel. Mayor Eunice Sato gave a talk and presented Dean with a perpetual gavel. (8:58-12:06)... Dean had a problem with Sato in regard to the Long Beach Equestrian Club and their stables. Dean states that the motion to eliminate the stables from Long Beach was passed at a city council meeting when none of those opposing the elimination was present. He has had no problems with Sato other than over the horses issue. Many of those who ride horses are children and they will not have anywhere in Long Beach to ride any longer. (12:06-14:19)... The International Optimist Club began in 1919 and a chapter was started in Long Beach in 1921. Dean became a member in 1924. The club started as a non-political, service oriented club geared to help boys. Following women's rights, the club began to accept girls in the programs they sponsor for young people and some clubs allowed women to participate. The club is now considered a "friend of the youth." The club never had racial barriers. (14:19-15:53)... There are 200 Optimist Clubs in California at the time of the interview. The Optimist Home for Boys is in Los Angeles on land that was donated by the Stricklin family. Dean served as vice-president of the home for 12 years. The club runs on money that is raised from its members. There is an Optimist Farm in Devore, California for boys also. (15:53-20:13)... At first, delinquent boys were put in Optimist Club member's homes after they were appointed by courts and checked up on by social workers. There were 2 social workers at the Optimist Home at the time of the interview and 70 boys live there. The boys stay at the Optimist Home for as long as a juvenile judge decides they should. Dean campaigned for the boys to be admitted to public school while they stayed at the Optimist Home for help in rehabilitation. (20:13-22:56)... The Optimist Club raises money by fining and donations. People give money because they want to. The Rotary Club supports the Tichenor Clinic, and the Kiwanis support the Boy Scouts. (22:56-29:19)... Dean was on the board and in charge of the activities for the Boy Scouts in Long Beach. He took boys to Camp Tahquitz. During the Depression the dining room was closed and the boys were taught to cook their own meals. He took boys from the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church up to the camp were he was the scout master. The boy scouts had to move and Dean organized the move. They bought a piece of land to land that was owned by a man named Cotton who didn't want to sell the land at first but was talked into it by Will J. Reid. The land is called Will J. Reid Boy Scout Park. At times they also let girls stay there. Reid also built the executive offices for the Boy Scouts. End of tape *** File: cbfdean10.mp3 (0:00-4:00)... The Kiwanis Club has done a lot for the Boy Scouts and other organizations in Long Beach. The Boy Scouts got a clubhouse from the Montana Land Company, that was moved to a place of theirs from a private racetrack. The clubhouse was used until a new one was built and it serves as a training camp for scout masters. (4:00-6:35)... The Boy Scouts got Will J. Reid Scout Park in 1940. The property was donated by a retired oil man named Cotton, who owned Jergen's Oil Company. He later retied to San Clemente. End of tape
- SUBJECT BIO - Fred Dean was a local businessman who prospered when the radios he sold became popular. He was also interested in local politics and appointed to the boards of directors of such public agencies as the Long Beach Water Commission and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). In this series of interviews, that were conducted as part of a project to study the impact of oil on Long Beach, Dean talks about his public service. He was on the MTA board when the Pacific Electric street cars stopped running in southern California and he served on the Water Commission when they sold some of their land for commercial development. Dean was also an active member of the Long Beach Mounted Police and as urban sprawl engulfed Long Beach, he fought to keep part of town where they could keep their horses. TOPICS - Fred S; Dean Day; Optimist Club; Eunice Sato; houses; stables; and Boy Scouts; Montana Land Company; Boy Scouts; and Will J; Reid Scout Park
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