Richard Alexander, 68; Ex-Culver City Mayor

By Dennis McLennen, Los Angeles Times, July 23, 2004



Today's L.A. Times features a story about a man who's inspired my work more than anyone....my father, who passed away this week.



Excerpts:



A Culver City resident since 1968, Alexander began his career in public service as a member of the city's Parks and Recreation Commission in 1971.



From 1974 to 1990, he served four terms on the City Council, including three one-year terms as the council-elected mayor.



------



"He had more energy and more love for this community than just about anybody you'll ever see," (Culver City Historian Julie) Cerra said. "He loved children, he loved people, he loved parks and he loved being a servant to the community. It was in his blood. He was the only councilman I ever heard of whose constituents threw him a party of thanks when he went off after his 16 years."



------



Alexander worked at TRW in Redondo Beach from the mid-1960s to 1972 and again from 1981 to 1990. His last position was as manager of the electronics group.



He contributed to various TRW research and development programs and developed hardware for such projects as the landers that touched down on Mars in NASA's 1970s Viking missions.