Monday, September 25, 2006
Page 3
Memorial Service to Be Held For Attorney James Beebe
By a MetNews Staff Writer
A memorial service celebrating the life of attorney James W. Beebe will be held Sunday, October 1, 2006, at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.
Beebe was one of Southern California’s most prominent municipal bond lawyers for more than 30 years, and was instrumental in the financing of major projects which brought water, housing, industry, and culture to the greater Los Angeles area.
Beebe was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1920, but was raised in Los Angeles. He graduated from Stanford University in 1942, and then served with distinction in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he was awarded the Bronze Star.
After the war, he returned to Los Angeles and graduated from U.S.C. Law School in 1949. He spent the next 20 years at the Los Angeles law firm O’Melveny & Myers, where he was for many years head of the municipal bond department. He was instrumental in the creation and issuance of the municipal bonds that financed construction of the Los Angeles Music Center and of a host of projects for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Los Angeles International Airport.
In the early 1970s, he left O’Melveny & Myers and formed James Warren Beebe, A Law Corporation, continuing his specialization in municipal bonds, redevelopment, and public finance, until his retirement in 1997. Major clients included the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, County of San Bernardino, City of Los Angeles (Department of Airports), City of Inglewood, City of Carson, and City of Industry.
Beebe was the author of many articles on civic and government financing, and was a frequent lecturer in his fields of practice. He was a member and chairman of the State and Local Government Committee of the State Bar, and served on the Boards of The Music Center, the Theatre & Forum Leasing Company, and the Ahmanson Theatre. He was a member of the California Club, the Annandale Golf Club, Stanford Alumni Association, Legion Lex, and he was a life-long member First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.
Beebe’s wife, Jeanne W. Beebe, was an integral part of his practice and worked at his side for nearly 30 years.
Upon his retirement, he relocated to San Juan Capistrano. He died on July 25, 2006, and is survived by his wife; step-son, William D. Wallace; and his brother, James Linn Beebe.
The First Congregational Church of Los Angeles is located at 540 South Commonwealth Avenue. The service will begin at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First Congregational Church.
Copyright 2006, Metropolitan News Company