John B. Schmolle; Contractor, Head of History Organization

John B. Schmolle, 87, civic leader and former president of the Native Sons of the Golden West. Schmolle, who spent most of his life in the Los Angeles area, was elected head of the organization in 1959. The Native Sons of the Golden West is a fraternal and charitable organization that works to preserve California history. In 1997, the group honored him by naming the elementary school essay contest he designed after him. A general contractor by profession, Schmolle was active in local and state politics and served as president of the Hermosa Beach Rotary and manager of the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce. He also worked with the Salvation Army, the South Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Civil Defense, the state Highway Commission and the Hermosa Beach Planning Commission. On June 28 in Santa Maria, Calif., of complications of a stroke.