Henry, William Mellors, 1890-1970

Biographical Note

William Mellors "Bill" Henry (1890-1970) was an American writer and journalist who lived and worked in Los Angeles, California from 1907-1970. Primarily known for his newspaper column, By the Way, which appeared daily in the Los Angeles Times from 1939-1971, Henry also reported on sports and automobiles for the Times from 1920-1939, served as technical director for 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and authored An Approved History of the Olympic Games (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1948.)

Henry worked as a war correspondent for the Los Angeles Times from 1939-1942, and reported on sports, political conventions, and presidential travel as a news broadcaster for Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), National Broadcasting Company (NBC), and the Times throughout his career. He was an aviation enthusiast, and assisted Donald Douglas in establishing the Douglas Aircraft Company in Los Angeles in 1920. Henry also served as editor of Touring Topics, a membership magazine produced by the Automobile Club of Southern California, from 1920-1926. After graduating from Occidental College in 1914, he married Corinne Stanton, with whom he fathered three daughters. Los Angeles civic leader and member of several social and athletic clubs, Henry continued to write for the Times until his death in 1970 at age 80.

From the guide to the Bill Henry Collection, Bulk, 1910-1970, 1888-1976, (Occidental College Library)