Nat Trives facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nat Trives
Mayor of Santa Monica, California
In office 1975–1977
Preceded by	Clo Hoover
Succeeded by	Donna O'Brien Swink
Santa Monica City Council
In office 1971–1979
Personal details
Born	Nathaniel Trives 1934 Birmingham, Alabama

Nathaniel Trives, born in 1934, is an important American politician. He made history as the first African-American mayor of Santa Monica, California. At that time, Santa Monica was mostly white. Before becoming mayor, Trives was a police officer in Santa Monica. He also served on the Santa Monica City Council for many years. Today, he is a respected professor at Santa Monica College and California State University, Los Angeles.

Early Life and Education

Nathaniel Trives was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1934. His parents were Oscar Trives and Lillie Bell Blakley. When he was young, his parents divorced. He then moved with his mother to Richmond, Indiana. There, his mother married James Bart Blakley in 1938.

Nathaniel and his brothers and sisters grew up in Indiana and Ohio. He has two brothers, Ben and Bart, and three sisters, Rachel, Joyce, and Carol. His father worked with buildings and land for businesses.

In 1949, his family moved to Santa Monica. Trives went to Lincoln Jr. High, which is now Lincoln Middle School. He then attended Santa Monica High School and finished in 1952.

After high school, Trives went to Santa Monica College. He earned a degree in Criminal Justice in 1954. Later, he received his Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Cal State Los Angeles. He also earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from UCLA.

Career Highlights

After college, Trives joined the Santa Monica Police Department. He became a sergeant, which is a leader in the police force. For five years, he was also the president of the Santa Monica Police Officers Association.

In 1971, he was elected to the Santa Monica City Council. He was re-elected in 1975. From 1973 to 1975, he served as mayor pro tem, which means he was like a vice-mayor. Then, from 1975 to 1977, he became the mayor of Santa Monica.

As mayor, Nathaniel Trives did many important things. He made sure that more people from different backgrounds were part of the city's leadership. He added minorities to every city board and commission. He also helped save the famous Santa Monica Pier from being torn down.

In the late 1970s, Trives took on a special role. He worked for the US Federal Court in Northern California. He would fly to San Francisco during the week for this job.

For twenty years, Trives taught at Santa Monica College. He is now a professor emeritus of criminal justice at Cal State LA. This means he is a retired professor who is still highly respected.

Community Involvement

Nathaniel Trives has always been active in his community. For many years, he was the board chair for Crossroads School in Santa Monica.

He also serves on the President's Council for California State University, Los Angeles. This shows his continued dedication to education and public service.

Personal Life

In 1955, Nathaniel Trives married Ida Trives. Their wedding took place at the First Baptist Church in Venice, California. They have one daughter named Toni.

Awards and Honors

Nathaniel Trives has received many awards for his work and service:

• 1999 -- Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Institute of Public Affairs Award
• 2012 -- Bahai Global Justice Award
• 2015 -- Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Award
• 2024 -- Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who's Who.

See also

• List of first African-American mayors
• African American mayors in California