Although there were at at least two notable Woolwines residing in L.A. at the time, this 1923 street is probably named for the older one: William David Woolwine (1854-1927), the Virginia-born vice president of the Merchants National Bank of Los Angeles. (He held positions at other local banks as well.) His nephew Thomas Lee Woolwine (1874-1925) was a more important figure in the annals of the City of Angels, serving eight memorable years as district attorney, but one street south from Woolwine Drive is Ramboz Drive – and John H. Ramboz was another Merchants National VP. (Their boss was J.E. Fishburn, who by happenstance also has a nearby avenue.) The bank connection thus makes a solid case for William as our namesake.
Find it on the map:
