George Alphy Proctor’s name doesn’t have the same familiar ring as that of Jared Sydney Torrance, wealthy founder of the city of Torrance.
But every burgeoning community needs enthusiastic boosters like Proctor to help get it up and running in its early days.
Proctor was born in Vale, Iowa, on June 16, 1880, to John and Barbara Proctor. The family moved to Southern California in 1884.
George got a job in 1907 as a machinist with Union Tool Co. in Los Angeles, which moved its plant that manufactured equipment for use in the oil drilling industry to Torrance in December 1912.
Union Tool was the first large firm to move to Torrance as part of Jared Sydney Torrance’s idea to build a “Planned Modern Industrial City,” whose workers could live in the city where they worked. He announced the founding of the city in March 1912, and ground officially was broken that October.
Proctor commuted at first, as he was less than impressed with Torrance’s dusty fields upon his initial visit there with his wife, Minnie, whom he married in 1903. Here’s how she described that visit to the area to the Torrance Herald in 1936:
“I remember when we first came down to Torrance and saw the new city-to-be. George looked at me and I looked at him. ‘Humph,” he declared, “I wouldn’t live here if they gave me the place!’”
Proctor eventually grew weary of the commute from downtown L.A., though, and the couple moved into a house at 1740 Gramercy in Torrance in 1913. Houses by then had become a hot commodity in the growing town. (The Proctors later moved to 1512 Post Ave.)
He changed his tune, and turned himself into one of the new settlement’s biggest supporters. He became active in the newly formed Chamber of Commerce, joining his fellow members in advocating strongly for the new city’s incorporation.
The Chamber’s members feared annexation by the city of Los Angeles, especially since the city’s financial assets continued to increase in value due to its industrial plants, and the impending possibility of finding oil deposits there.
With the Chamber’s push, the issue was put to a vote on April 12, 1921, and the measure passed overwhelmingly, 355 in favor and 21 against. Voters also chose the first official board of trustees to run the new city.
The incorporation took effect on May 21, 1921. On that day, the five-member board voted for its president from among its members, and George Proctor became the city’s first mayor, though officially he was elected president of its board of trustees.
For the next 37 years, Torrance’s mayor was selected by a vote of the council from among its sitting members. Albert Isen wouldn’t become the city’s first publicly elected mayor until 1958, and Torrance voters have elected all the mayors since then.
Proctor served as the city’s head for one year, but his civic engagement continued after his term ended on April 17, 1922. He was succeeded by J.M. Fitzhugh.
He offered his advice to other communities exploring the benefits of incorporation, including to the Moneta area of Gardena in 1923.
He served as president of the Torrance Chamber of Commerce several times, was active with the Red Cross and other charities, belonged to the Torrance Elks lodge and was an active participant in the city’s volunteer fire department.
With his volubility, considerable girth and genial manner, Proctor also was a natural to play Santa Claus at Christmastime, and did so many times.
In 1927, he became plant-wide employment manager at Union Tool, which had become a part of the National Supply Co. He would serve in that role until his death.
Proctor suffered from diabetes, and died at 48 on Sept. 4, 1928, following an operation at Torrance Memorial Hospital.
The city honored its community leader and former mayor by lowering all its flags to half mast. Businesses closed for the day. Tributes poured forth from not only Torrance residents, but also leaders of other communities who had worked with Proctor before and after his brief mayoral stint.
In its tribute, the Torrance Herald quoted what he said when he declined to run for another term as a trustee: “I want to keep serving the city, but no man can do his duty as he sees it and remain an official forever. It is time that I step aside and hand the job to someone else. But if they ever need me again, I’ll be here.”
His wife, Minnie, died in Los Angeles on June 20, 1945, after 40 years as a children’s dentist. She held the honor of becoming the first-ever female graduate of the University of Southern California Dental College.
Sources:
City of Torrance website.
Find A Grave website.
Daily Breeze archives.
Historic Torrance: A Pictorial History of Torrance, California, by Dennis F. Shanahan and Charles Elliott, Jr., Legends Press, 1984.
Torrance Press-Herald archives.
Note: Nadine Kirk of Torrance adds this to the story:
Thank you for this article, we are most interested in the history of Old Torrance. Imagine my surprise to see our address as the first residence of former Mayor Proctor in Torrance! We have lived at 1740 Gramercy since 1980, and although we thought the house was built prior to 1918 we didn’t realize it dates back to 1913. Thank you very much for the information.
Best, Nadine (and Richard) Kirk
