Profile Text
Birth Name: Samuel William Yorty
Date of Birth: October 1, 1909
Place of Birth: Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Date of Death: June 5, 1998
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: *75% Irish *25% German
Sam Yorty was an American politician. As a member of the Democratic Party, he was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California, from January 3, 1951 to January 3, 1955, and Mayor of Los Angeles, California, from July 1, 1961 to July 1, 1973. He was also a Member of the California State Assembly, from January 4, 1937 to January 6, 1941, and again, from April 5, 1949 to January 8, 1951. He later became a Republican.
He was a candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1964 and 1972 .
Sam was the son of Johanna (Egan) and Frank Patrick Yorty. His father was of German and Irish descent. His mother was Irish, from Tipperary. He was married to Elizabeth Louise Hensel, until his death, with whom he had a son.
Sam’s paternal grandfather was Samuel P. Yorty (the son of Johannes Yorty and Maria Magdalena Reinoehl). Sam’s grandfather Samuel was born in Pennsylvania. Johannes was the son of John Yorty and Lise Elizabeth Light. Maria Margdalena was the daughter of John George Henry Reinoehl and Elizabeth/Eliza Catharine Meilly.
Sam’s paternal grandmother was named Mary Amelia Callanan. Mary Amelia was born in New Hampshire, to Irish parents.
Sam’s maternal grandfather was William Egan (the son of Edward Egan). William was Irish.
Sam’s maternal grandmother was Johanna Hayes (the daughter of Henry Hayes and Anne Noonan). Johanna was Irish.
Sources: Sam Yorty on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Sam’s father on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org