Frank G. Belcher (1905-1959)

frankbelcherFrank Garrettson Belcher was born in Los Angeles, California, on June 30, 1905, a son of Frank J. Jr., and Virginia Acheson (Garrettson) Belcher. His maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Garrettson, were early pioneers of San Diego. He came to San Diego with his parents in 1909 and received his early schooling in the public schools of San Diego. He graduated from the Harvard Military School in Los Angeles in 1921; from the San Diego High School in 1923; and from the Princeton Prep School in 1924. He took his B.S. degree at Princeton University with the class of 1928.

Mr. Belcher began his business career with the First National Trust & Savings Bank in 1928. In 1930 he was with the American Trust Company of San Francisco, returning to the First National Trust & Savings Bank in 1931 as assistant cashier. In 1932 he was promoted to the position of assistant cashier and vice-president, which position he has held continuously since that time. In 1934 Mr. Belcher was elected president of the California Pacific International Exposition. This position he occupied during the entire life of the Exposition in the years 1934-35-36. He was the youngest man to serve as president of any national or international exposition, being only twenty-nine years of age when he was elected to that responsible position. He has rendered outstanding service to the Exposition and to the community, and has merited and won the approbation, respect and good will, not only of the people of San Diego, but also of the people of the State of California, and of the many distinguished guests of the Exposition, whom he so ably assisted in entertaining.

Mr. Belcher was married September 28, 1930, to Miss Harriet Holbrook, a granddaughter of John D. Spreckels. He has two sons, John Garrettson and Frank Garrettson Belcher, Jr. Mr. Belcher is a member of the Campus Club of Princeton University, Beta Phi Sigma fraternity, the Princeton Club of New York, the San Diego Club, the San Diego Press Club of which he is a director. He is also a director of the Coronado Riding Club and the Coronado National Horse Show Association. He is a founder and a director of the Marlin Club of San Diego and a director of the California Fish and Game Association, and has served as a director of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. In his fraternal affiliations lie is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West and of the B.P.0. Elks.

Mr. Belcher is the owner of the Belbrook Stables of the Rancho Corte Madera, San Diego county. These stables are maintained for the breeding and exhibition of fine horses. Mr. Belcher’s horses have won many awards in horse shows throughout California and the East. In addition to his hobby of breeding and exhibiting horses, he is also deeply interested in deep sea fishing and in the conservation of fish and game.

[from Heilbron, Carl. History of San Diego County v.2: Biography. San Diego: San Diego Press Club, 1936. (pages 216-217)]

Frank Belcher died in San Francisco in February, 1959, at the age of 54.

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