By Oliver Beckwith
MHM Board Member

In 2021, the City of Monrovia honored Leroy Criss (1925-2008), one of its home-grown citizens, with a Neighborhood Treasure Monument. Since 2018, the city had been honoring people of Monrovia’s past who made a difference, and Leroy Criss was the fifth person to receive the honor. Criss is known for being one of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II, but his lifetime achievements go well beyond his military service. In order to understand the nature of his accomplishments, a study into his life must include a consideration of American society during his lifetime.

Born in 1925, Leroy Criss grew up in Monrovia, and like many kids of his generation, he dreamed of flying. He lived on Maple Street, not far from the Monrovia Airport, and he could see and hear the planes flying. Leroy attended the segregated Huntington Elementary School, located just North of Huntington Drive on Canyon  Boulevard, where Black, Latino, and Asian students from the area were assigned.

By Vicky Hansen
​MHM Board Member

​Friendly rivals for decades, the two high schools came together for one unforgettable evening in 1967. Here's the remarkable story of how a student promoter from Arcadia High brought a little-known rock band to the stage at Monrovia High—just weeks before "Light My Fire" made music history. 

Just weeks before they became famous on the radio and “Light My Fire” hit #1 on the charts, The Doors played on April 28,1967 in Monrovia High School’s Auditorium.

​By Oliver Beckwith, MHM Board Member

​Since the beginning of Monrovia’s existence to the present time, educating young people has been a key factor in fostering and maintaining the success of the city. City fathers recognized it; the first school, Orange Avenue School (now Monroe Elementary), was constructed in 1887 on land donated by William Monroe. The building had two stories, with elementary grades meeting on the first floor and the high school located on the second floor.
 
Early on Monrovia had a reputation for academic excellence. An early Superintendent was James A. Foshay (1856-1914). Foshay went on to become the Los Angeles City Superintendent of Schools. In 1925 Foshay had a school named after him and today it’s still educating students. The James A. Foshay Learning Center in Exposition Park is a testament to the memory of this Monrovia educator.