Ralph, Leon D.

Leon Douglas Ralph, b. Richmond, Va., 1932; served in the California State Assembly from 1966-1976; during his tenure he was active on many committees and was concerned primarily with the affirmative action and other issues effecting minorities.

From the description of Oral history interview with Hon. Leon D. Ralph, 1991 : oral history transcript / by Arlene Lazarowitz, Oral History Program, California State University, Fullerton, for the State Government Oral History Program, California State Archives, 1993. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 214947232

Biography

Leon Douglas Ralph, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member, 1966-1976. His 55th Assembly District included cities within Los Angeles County. Following redistricting, he represented the 48th Assembly District.

He was born on August 20, 1932 in Richmond, Virginia and established residence in California in 1956. He attended the University of Colorado and received an A.A. degree from Los Angeles Valley College and a B.A. degree in Political Science from Windsor University in Ontario, Canada. He later attended Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena. Ralph served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict, 1950-1954 and then worked as a logistical analyst for Douglas Aircraft, 1956-1963. With Martha Anna Morgan whom he married on September 27, 1951 he had three children: Martha, Ruth, and Leon, Jr. His 1972 marriage to Pamela Joynes (which ended in divorce in 1989) produced two children: Tyrone and Tiffany. In 1990 he married Ruth Gonzales Banda who had two children of her own: Maya Gonzales Banda & Vicente Ramon Banda.

Assembly Member Ralph's community and civic affiliations included such organizations and positions as Los Angeles County Democratic Committee member; Watts Branch NAACP member; Broadway-Manchester Chamber of Commerce member; Chair of the County of Los Angeles Conference of Black Elected Officials; and Democratic National Committee member from California.

Leon Ralph began his political career as an administrative assistant to Speaker of the Assembly Jesse Unruh. He was elected to the State Assembly in 1966 and served until 1976 when he resigned to become a minister. During his term in the Legislature he was a member of the Black Legislative Caucus. In 1988 he made an unsuccessful campaign to return to the Assembly. According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), he served on the following committees:

From the guide to the Leon D. Ralph papers, 1967-1976, (California State Archives)