William and Lula Frances Clemons, Carl's parents, with Carl in 1923

CARL CLEMONS

Carl Clemmons was born on October 15, 1923 in Akron, Ohio. His parents moved to San Bernardino, California in 1927. In 1930 his father and mother built a home at 1940 Baseline Street. Carl is still residing in the same house.

Mr. Hirata's store. He is on the far left and Masako is second child in the center

	Why I say that when I grew up it was during the Depression. The opportunity for good jobs were not available during those times and by jobs I mean like at Harris' Department, being school teachers, being mechanics. Those jobs were kind of reserved for the whites. More... Play
	The only job I could get at the time was a laborer's position. When I started there the blacks worked on one side of the shops and the whites on the other side. When the engine came in it was the blacks and mexicans. More... Play
	When I was growing up there were ill feelings toward the orientals. The orientals were excluded from many things like restaurants, from the public pool, plunges. More... Play

A life-long resident of San Bernardino, Carl attended local schools; Mt. Vernon and Harding Elementary schools, Sturges Junior High , San Bernardino High School and San Bernardino Valley College. His first employment was at Santa Fe Railroad where he was the first black to receive a machinist apprenticeship. He served in the Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946. Mr. Clemons was also employed with the United States Government at Norton Air Force Base and retired in 1985 as Chief, Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor.

Mr. Clemons also served in various community and civic affairs such as Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts, Uptown U.S.A., Salvation Army, Community Scholarship Associaton, San Bernardino Grand Jury, San Bernardino Human Services, Cities' Affirmative Action Commission. He was the first black Chairman of the City Planning Commission; served as Community Activities Chairman of the Neighborhood Housing services, the Northwest Project Area Committee, Inland Congregation United for Change, and the Police Commission. At seventy-seven years of age he continues to be involved in community and educational concerns.

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