Craven (Bill) Papers, 1974-1998

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Summary

Title:: Bill Craven Papers
Dates:: 1974-1998
Creators:: Bill Craven, California Legislator
Abstract:: Bill Craven, Republican, was a California State Assembly Member from 1974-1978, representing the 80th Assembly District from 1974-1975 then the 76th Assembly District. The Bill Craven Papers consist of 12 cubic feet of records reflecting Craven's activities during his Assembly and Senate career. The collection contains Bill Files, 1974-1998.
Extent:: 12 cubic feet
Language:: Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:: [Identification of item], Bill Craven Papers, LP376:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Bill Craven Papers consist of 12 cubic feet of records reflecting Craven's activities during his Assembly and Senate career. The collection contains Bill Files, 1974-1998.

The bill files document Craven's legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature. While the bills introduced by Bill Craven include a wide array of subjects, his primary concerns included mobile home regulation, local government, and coastal land protection. Noteworthy bills include SB1309 of 1994 which created the crime of aggravated arson, SB1585 of 1995 that eased regulations on mobile home parks that want to become senior citizen only, SB310 of 1995 that aides the conversion of mobile home parks to resident owned parks, and SB360 of 1988 that created a California State University campus in San Marcos.

Biographical / historical:

Bill Craven, Republican, was a California State Assembly Member from 1974-1978, representing the 80th Assembly District from 1974-1975 then the 76th Assembly District. The 76th Assembly District included the cities of La Jolla, Carlsbad, Escondido, and Poway. In 1979, Craven was elected to the California State Senate, representing the 38th Senate District. This district included the cities of Laguna Nigiel, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido.

Bill Craven was born on June 30, 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Villanova University in Philadelphia with a Bachelors of Science degree. He later received an honorary LL.B.Degree from National University.

Craven enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and was commissioned eighteen months later. He was attached to the battalion that raised the flag atop Mt. Surabachi on Iwo Jima. Separated from service in 1946, he was recalled in 1950 for three more years and finished his military career with the rank of major.

After completing his military career, Craven took a post as general manager of a concessions firm in Los Angeles. His earlier work in radio and television led him to become a copywriter for an advertising firm. He later went on to become City Manager for the City of San Marcos.

In 1970, he became the first San Diego County employee to be elected to the County Board of Supervisors. In 1973, he won a special election for the 80th Assembly District seat after Assemblymember John Stull moved to the California State Senate. In 1976, Craven won the 76th Assembly District seat.

As an Assembly Member and Senator, Craven's interests were local government, tax reform, coastal protection, campaign advertising, and mobile home regulations. One of his most notable accomplishments was the creation of California Sate University, San Marcos.

Aside from being a senator, Craven was active in the U.S. Jaycees. He served as their National Director and was honored with their Distinguished Service Award. Senator Craven died in 1999 at the age of 78. He was survived by Marion, his wife of 55 years and his children, John, William Jr. and Tricia.

According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks) and the California Blue Book, Craven served on the following committees:

Standing and Interim Committees
Labor Relations, 1975
Local Government, 1975-1978
*Chair, 1976-1978
Public Employment and Retirement, 1975-1978
Education, 1978
Subcommittees
Industrial Safety, 1975-1976
Retirement, 1977-1978
Select Committees
Select Committee on Coastal Zone Resources, 1975

State Senate, 1990-1996

Standing and Interim Committees
Local Government, 1979-1998
*Chair, 1995-1998
Agriculture and Water Resources, 1979-1998
*Vice Chair, 1979
Business and Professions, 1979-1998
Elections and Reapportionment, 1979-1998
*Vice Chair, 1980-1998
Rules, 1981-1994
*Vice Chair, 1985-1994
Subcommittees
Mobile Home Problems, 1979-1982
*Chair, 1979-1982
Infrastructure and Public Works, 1983-1986
Redevelopment of Antiquated Subdivisions, 1985-1989
Agricultural Lands, 1989-1995
Dairy Practices and Marketing, 1983-1995
Economic Problems Facing Agriculture, 1983-1995
Agricultural Lands, 1985-1988
Water Marketing, 1985-1995
Sports, 1987-1995
Prescription Drugs, 1989
Census, 1989
Select Committees
Political Reform Act of 1974, 1980
Mobile Homes, 1983-1998
*Chair, 1983
Licensed and Designated Sports, 1983-1986
Business Development, 1984-1996
Citizen Participation in Government, 1984-1998
Substance Abuse, 1987
Health Hazards of the Workplace, 1989-1990
Maritime Industry, 1989-1998
Economic Development and Technology, 1993-1998
Redevelopment, 1996
Voting Practices and Procedure, 1994-1996
*Vice Chair, 1994
Taxation on Oil and Minerals, 1983
Joint Committees
Arts, 1984-1998
Quincentennial of the Voyage of Columbus, 1989-1992
Fire, Police, Emergency and Disaster Services, 1989
Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1991-1995
*Vice Chair, 1991-1992
Legislative Retirement, 1983-1989
*Chair, 1989
Refugee Resettlement and International Migration, 1983-1989
Courthouse Financing and Construction, 1990
Additional Committees
Research Committee on Neighborhood Violence, 1989
Special Committee on Border Issues, 1991-1992
*Chair, 1991-1992
Commission on the Californias, 1979-1986
Commission for Economic Development, 1984-1988

Acquisition information:

The California State Archives acquired the Bill Craven Papers following his final term in the State Legislature.

Physical location:

California State Archives

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Local government
Mobile homes Law and legislation
Names:: Craven, William A.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Processed by Justin C. Salenik
Date Encoded:: Machine-readable finding aid created by Justin C. Salenik. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: 01 October 2007.

Access and use

Restrictions:: Collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred citation:: [Identification of item], Bill Craven Papers, LP376:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:: California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, CA 95814, US