* Gilbert Benjamin Jr.; FBI Agent, Civic Leader

Gilbert Giddings Benjamin Jr., a retired FBI agent and former president of the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce, has died at his Granada Hills home. He was 74.

A longtime San Fernando Valley resident, Benjamin died Sunday of arteriosclerosis, said his sister, Mary Dunn, of Studio City.

Born in Iowa City, Iowa, Benjamin came to Los Angeles as a child. He attended USC, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1940. During World War II, he served as an officer in the U. S. Navy.

After a brief period working in the personnel department of Lockheed Corp. in Burbank, Benjamin abandoned his goal of becoming a teacher and joined the FBI in the late 1940s.

He remained with the Bureau for 31 years, earning commendations from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover for his investigative work in the 1963 kidnaping of Frank Sinatra Jr. and the 1968 apprehension and prosecution of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr.

Benjamin retired from the FBI in the late 1970s and began a second career as a civic leader. He served a one-year term as president of the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce in 1990 and was active in the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley, the East Valley Coordinating Council and the San Fernando Valley Historical Society.

Earlier this month, Benjamin was named one of five finalists for this year’s Fernando Award, which honors an individual with a record of outstanding community service in the Valley. The recipient will be announced Nov. 5.

“Mr. Benjamin was a well-respected community leader,” City Councilman Hal Bernson said in a statement. “He will be missed.”

In addition to his sister, Benjamin is survived by his wife of 39 years, Ruth Benjamin; daughter Betty Benjamin of Lewisburg, Ohio; son James Gilbert Benjamin of Franktown, Colo.; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church of Granada Hills, 15950 Chatsworth St. Utter-McKinley Mortuary in Mission Hills is handling the arrangements.

A scholarship is being established in Benjamin’s name at USC. Additional information is available through James Benjamin.