John S. Todd Story
Part I: History of Lakewood 1949-1954

In 1969, City Attorney John S. Todd looked back at the momentous events of 1949-1954 and told the thrilling story of Lakewood’s struggle for independence. His account is the only history of Lakewood’s first years written by one who was there, in the thick of the fight, to make Lakewood a city.

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Click to dowload an illustrated PDF of the John S. Todd memoir

Todd’s story, which blends his own experiences as a young father and attorney and as civic activist, is unique. Here, you will meet the men and women of the new “city of Lakewood.” Except, it wasn’t a city at all. These hopeful, eager new residents faced the challenge of annexation by Long Beach and won. With Todd’s help, they faced the next challenge:  building a genuine community governed by their own city council.

Todd’s first-person history is an invaluable source of information about the making of Lakewood and the politics of cityhood. It’s also the story of one man’s vision for the future of a community that he helped to build.