Walter F. Dexter

Candidate Biography:

Walter Friar Dexter
Born: November 21, 1886 in Chicago, Illinois
Married: Ethel Lenore Smith (in 1910)
Children: Walter F. Jr. and Daniel Sherman Dexter
Died (in office): October 21, 1945 in Sacramento, CA

1923-1934: President, Whittier College
1935-1937: Secretary, Governor Frank F. Merriam
1938-1939: President, Lions Club International
1945: Early Primary Candidate for CD-12 (Died prior to election)

• PLACENAME: Walter F. Dexter Middle School is located in Whittier (Opened 1952).
• PLACENAME: The Walter F. Dexter Building is located at CalPoly San Luis Obispo (Building #34). According to the University, "Dexter helped Cal Poly’s president Julian McPhee to get approval and state funding for the new library building, completed in September 1948 and officially named the Walter F. Dexter Memorial Library." It now houses the CalPoly ROTC program.
• OTHER: Whittier College presents an annual "Walter Friar Dexter Award" to the graduating senior making the greatest contribution to the college community.

Source: California Blue Book (1942)
Source: Political Graveyard (website).
Source: "Dr. Walter Dexter's Condition Critical", Los Angeles Times (10/17/1945)
Source: "Walter F. Dexter (obituary)", Los Angeles Times (10/29/1945)