Philip L. Boyd

Philip Linnaes Boyd (October 8, 1900 – September 9, 1989) was the first mayor of Palm Springs, California, a regent of the University of California and the namesake of the Deep Canyon Desert Research Center.

For other people named Philip Boyd, see Philip Boyd (disambiguation).
Philip L. Boyd
Born(1900-10-08)October 8, 1900
Richmond, Indiana, US
DiedSeptember 9, 1989(1989-09-09) (aged 88)[1]
Eisenhower Medical Center[2][3]
Resting placeCrown Hill Cemetery[4]
39.81664°N 86.17134°W / 39.81664; -86.17134
Alma materWabash College
Occupationbusinessman
Political partyRepublican Party of California
Board member ofRegents of the University of California
Spouse(s)
Dorothy Burrough Marmon
​
​
(m. 1926, died)​
[5][6]
Parent(s)Linnaes Cox Boyd & Mary Thomas Spencer[7]
AwardsZoological Society of San Diego Conservation Medal (1972)[8]
Signature

Personal life

Philip Boyd was born October 8, 1900, in Richmond, Indiana, the son of lawyer and corporate executive Linnaes Cox Boyd and Mary Thomas Spencer, daughter of prominent businessman William F. Spencer.[7] Boyd fell ill and was forced to drop out of Wabash College, where he was a student. In 1921 his parents brought him to Palm Springs in the hope the dry climate would help him recover. According to Boyd, his long illness forced him to consider what he would do with his life once he was healed. Boyd started work as a secretary for the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and opened the first branch of Bank of America in Palm Springs. During the Great Depression Boyd was able to delve into real estate, buying ranch lands in the area of Deep Canyon.[5] In 1953 Boyd, who was on the board of trustees for the Palm Springs Art Museum, leased property for a nature reserve now part of the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Boyd encouraged faculty from the newly opened University of California, Riverside to use his nature reserve for research only to realize his public nature reserve was not a fitting setting for academic research. In 1958 Boyd donated another parcel of land 1,701 acres (6.88 km2) and funding to purchase a total of 3,500 acres (14 km2) in Deep Canyon to open what is now the research center.[9][10] The University of California has since acquired other contiguous property to expand the research area to its current size.[11] The acquired lands were named after Boyd in 1961. Clark Kerr (then the President of the University) and Herman Spieth (the chancellor of the Riverside campus) commented that the reservation would allow ongoing research to continue in ecosystems threatened by urban sprawl.[12] Boyd and his wife donated funds in 1966 to support the construction of UCR's carillon tower.[1] Boyd's memoir is archived at UCR in the Special Collections Department of Rivera Library.[1] Boyd and his wife also donated a set of silver Towle salt and pepper shakers to the Indianapolis Museum of Art.[13]

Political life

Boyd was instrumental in incorporating Palm Springs, serving as the town's first mayor from 1938 to 1942.[2] He ran unopposed for a seat in the California State Assembly, representing Riverside in what had been then called the 78th Assembly District from 1945 to 1949.[14] While an assemblyman, Boyd voted to establish University of California, Riverside. As a member of California's State Public Works Boards Boyd participated in the logistical process of establishing the UCR campus.[5] In 1950 was elected chairman of the California Republican Party's central committee, beating out the serving vice-chairman who would traditionally have been elected. In 1957 Goodwin J. Knight, then Governor of California, appointed Boyd as a Regent of the University of California system.[5] Boyd resigned his position as regent April 1, 1970 after new laws changed the financial disclosure requirements for state officials.[5][15]

Citations
  1. "Guide to the Philip L. Boyd Papers". Online Archive of California. 2008.
  2. "Philip L. Boyd, Politician, 88". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 13, 1989.
  3. "Philip Boyd Dies; Palm Springs' first mayor". San Bernardino County Sun. September 12, 1989. p. 16.
  4. Rick France (May 17, 2009). "Philip L Boyd". American businessman. Find a Grave. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  5. Oliver, Myrna (September 11, 1989). "Philip Boyd; 1st Mayor of Palm Springs, UC Regent". Los Angeles Times.
  6. "Society and Clubs of Interest to Women". The Indianapolis News. March 10, 1926. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1910). Greater Indianapolis: The History, the Industries, the Institutions, and the People of a City of Homes. 2. Lewis publishing company. p. 767.
  8. "Zoological Society of San Diego Conservation Medal Recipients". San Diego Zoo.
  9. Muth, Al (Fall–Winter 2013). "A Brief History of Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center". El Paisano (217).
  10. "Bioregional planning blooms in California's Coachella Valley" (PDF). Transect. University of California. 19 (2): 2. Winter 2001.
  11. "Boyd (Philip L.) Desert Research Center (R)". University of California. 2011.
  12. "Boyd Research Center". University Bulletin. 10 (1): 1. July 3, 1961.
  13. "Salt And Pepper Shaker Towle, Manufacturer (American)". Indianapolis Museum of Art.
  14. "Ex-Palm Springs Mayor Candidate for Aseemblyman". Corona Daily Independent. March 14, 1944. p. 2 – via newspaperarchive.com.
  15. "Philip Boyd Announced Resignation as Regent". University Bulletin. University of California. 18 (27): 139. March 30, 1970.
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