Gilbert W. Lindsay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gilbert William Lindsay
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Lindsay in 1963
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| Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 9th District | |
| In office 1962–1990 |
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| Preceded by | Edward Roybal |
| Succeeded by | Rita Walters |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 29, 1900 Mississippi |
| Died | December 28, 1990 (aged 90) Los Angeles, California |
| Spouse | Theresa Lindsay |
Gilbert William Lindsay (born November 29, 1900 – died December 28, 1990) was a famous politician in Los Angeles, California. He was also known as Gil Lindsay. He started working as a janitor at City Hall. Later, he became the first African-American person to join the Los Angeles City Council. He was a very powerful leader for 27 years, from 1963 to 1990.
Gil Lindsay helped make downtown Los Angeles a big, modern city. Some people felt he focused more on developing downtown than on the neighborhoods he represented.
About Gilbert Lindsay
Early Life and Education
Gilbert Lindsay was born on November 29, 1900, in Mississippi. When he was young, he worked in cotton fields. As a teenager, he left Mississippi and went to school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Later, he moved to Arizona. There, he joined the Army. He served in the 10th Cavalry and the 25th Infantry. While in the Army, he studied business at the University of Arizona.
Moving to Los Angeles
Around 1923 or 1924, Gil Lindsay moved to Los Angeles. He got a job as a janitor at Los Angeles City Hall for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. He took a test to become a clerk. He was given an office in the basement.
Even while working, he kept learning. He took classes in government and political science at the University of Southern California. He also studied business at UCLA. He worked for the department for 25 years.
People had different views about his time as a janitor. The Los Angeles Times quoted him saying he had "the lowest job you can give a human being." But others said he took pride in his work. They said he gave the janitor's job the same respect he gave being a council member.
Gil Lindsay was a short man, standing about five feet, three inches tall.
Family Life
Gil Lindsay's wife was named Theresa. She was from Greenville, Texas. They were married for 49 years. Theresa passed away in 1984. After her death, it was said that Gil Lindsay's health started to decline.
He had a son named Melvin and a daughter named Sylvia Thornton. He also had a stepson, Herbert Howard, and an adopted daughter, Christina Willoughby.
Later Years and Passing
In 1989, Gil Lindsay had a stroke. This made it hard for him to do his job fully. His chief assistant, Bob Gay, took on many of his duties. People on the City Council noticed he sometimes seemed confused.
He was hospitalized again when he forgot to take his diabetes medicine. This happened during a busy time when Nelson Mandela was visiting City Hall.
Gil Lindsay passed away on December 28, 1990, in a Hollywood hospital. He was 90 years old. His death was caused by a long illness that started with his stroke. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Public Service Career
Early Political Work
Gil Lindsay became involved in politics, especially with the Democratic Party and labor unions. He became very good at getting people to vote. His bosses at Water and Power would ask him to help get African-American voters to support different city projects.
He was on the board of directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1953 to 1958. He was also an NAACP vice president.
Later, City Council candidate Kenneth Hahn asked Lindsay to help him get African-American votes. Hahn won the election. When Hahn became a county supervisor, he hired Lindsay as a field deputy. Lindsay held this job for ten years.
Joining the City Council
Becoming a Council Member
In January 1963, Gil Lindsay became Los Angeles's first African-American council member. He was 62 years old. He was appointed to the 9th District Council seat after Ed Roybal was elected to Congress. He had the support of the powerful Hahn brothers, Gordon and Kenneth.
Later that year, he won the election for the seat himself. He was reelected eight more times. Over the years, he proudly called himself the "Emperor of the Great 9th District."
Gil Lindsay served on the City Council for 27 years. Only a few other council members served longer than him.
Key Positions and Views
Working with Developers. Lindsay was sometimes criticized for being too close with big developers. People said he favored Downtown Los Angeles and didn't pay enough attention to the neighborhoods in his district. However, during his time in office, downtown Los Angeles grew into a major business center.
Council Relationships. In 1984, Lindsay talked about how City Council members got along. He said, "All the council members get along fine when they need a vote." But he also said they often had their own goals. He had a simple way of deciding how to vote: "I vote my district, then my friends, and, what's good for me."
Skid Row. Lindsay's district included Skid Row, an area with many homeless people. He always supported building new businesses and homes in this area. In 1987, he and some business owners didn't want more residential and treatment centers in Skid Row. They felt these centers attracted more homeless people and that the area had potential for commercial growth.
Legacy
Gil Lindsay is remembered in Los Angeles through several places and honors:
- The Gilbert W. Lindsay Child Abuse Center at California Medical Hospital was named for his contributions.
- There is a special forum at California State University, Los Angeles called the Gilbert W. Lindsay Endowed Public Policy Forum in Forensic Science.
- A 10-foot-high artwork by Pat Ward Williams called The Emperor of the Great 9th District stands on the Gilbert Lindsay Plaza. This plaza is in front of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
- Gilbert Lindsay Mall is a small plaza in Little Tokyo.
- The Gilbert Lindsay Recreation Center is located at 429 East 42nd Street.
Images for kids
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Lindsay in 1963
