Black History
William E. Wells: L.A. Transit’s First Black Employee
William E. Wells, L.A. transit’s first Black employee was born an enslaved person and was hired as a janitor by LACE Railway in 1891. He retired in 1939 after 48 years of dedicated service to the railway company.
Today, let us take a moment to honor William E. “Bill” Wells, a Black pioneer in Los Angeles transportation history. Mr. Wells, born an enslaved person in 1862, is considered to be the first Black employee in L.A. transit.
Mr. Wells’ family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child, and he was eventually hired as a janitor by the Los Angeles Consolidated Electric (LACE) Railway in 1891. He was quickly promoted to Messenger for the railway company’s Treasury Department, where he carried financial documents between operations, headquarters, and the banks. After LACE was absorbed by the Los Angeles Railway Company (LARy), Mr. Wells worked directly for Henry Huntington for a time.
Mr. Wells dedicated 48 years of his life to working for the railway company before retiring in 1939. His retirement was announced in the Two Bells employee news magazine, which noted that “William will be missed greatly by all his friends in the Railway who enjoyed his pleasant friendly manner, and with him we all send our best wishes…”
Mr. Wells passed away in 1943 at the age of 81. His obituary in the employee news magazine noted that he was a member of the Masonic Lodge and that “one of his daily deeds was to hand out flowers to his friends, flowers he raised himself. This act alone personified the beauty of his character.”
It is important to recognize the contributions made by Black pioneers like William E. Wells in L.A. transportation history. His dedication and hard work paved the way for future generations and helped shape the transportation system we know today. We should remember and honor his legacy as we continue to work towards a more just and equitable society.