Joseph Allan Beek (December 16, 1880 – October 21, 1968) was the longest-serving Secretary of the Senate in California history (1919–68). The

Secretary of the California State Senate The Secretary of the California Senate is a nonpartisan officer of the Senate and is elected at the beginning of each two-year session. The secretary's primary role is the chief parliamentarian of the Senate (Senate Rule 9, Standing Rules of the Se ...

is a nonpartisan officer of the Senate who advises the presiding officer and Senators on parliamentary procedures and is the chief recordkeeper of the Senate. The Secretary is elected by majority vote of the Senators for each two-year session. Joe Beek was born in

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

and established residency in California in 1907. He attended school in Pasadena at Throop Polytechnic Institute (later renamed

Caltech The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...

). Beek first served as a Senate attache in 1913. In 1917 he was elected Minute Clerk. He was first elected as Secretary in 1919 and served continuously, with the exception of 1921–22, until his death in office on October 20, 1968. Beek authored the book "The California Legislature" in 1942. Written in narrative form, the book was part history lesson, part memoir, and part guide to the legislative process. Subsequent editions were published for the next 40 years. Beek also co-founded the

American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), established in 1975, is a "nonpartisan public officials’ association composed of sitting state legislators" from the states, territories and commonwealths of the United States. Background ...

(ASLCS) in 1943. He served as the ASLCS president for the first 25 years. Beek's years of Capitol service closely mirrored that of his colleague,

Arthur Ohnimus Arthur Allen Ohnimus (1893–1965) was the longest serving Assembly Chief Clerk in California history (1923–1963). He was also the first Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly Rules Committee (1957–1963). Ohnimus served under 8 Repu ...

, who served as Chief Clerk of the lower house from 1915 to 1963. Beek was perhaps best known for his role in developing

Balboa Island Balboa Island is a harborside community in Newport Beach, California, accessible to the public via bridge, ferry and several public docks. The community is surrounded by a paved concrete boardwalk open to pedestrian traffic, designated as a pu ...

. He established the

Balboa Island Ferry The Balboa Island Car Ferry is a ferry service in Newport Beach, California. The ferry boats travel under 1,000 feet from Balboa Island to the Balboa Peninsula (Fun Zone area) and vice versa, reaching a top speed of four miles per hour. The sp ...

, built roads and bridges, and was one of the island's chief promoters. Beek was also Chairman of the California Small Craft Harbor Commission, was a published musician and composer, a World War II veteran, and a promoter of reforestation of hills surrounding Orange County.''The California Legislature'', 1980 edition, by Joseph A. Beek (R.W. Lyons, editor), Office of State Printing, Sacramento. p. vi

References

Sources

*''The California Legislature'', 1980 edition, by Joseph A. Beek (R.W. Lyons, editor), Office of State Printing, Sacramento. * ''California Blue Book'', State of California, 1938 and 1961 editions.
California's Legislature (2006 edition), Appendix E, p. 269

ASLCS web site

External links

Balboa Island Museum
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beek, Joseph Allan 1880 births 1968 deaths California Institute of Technology alumni Officers of the California State Legislature