Vincent Thomas Bridge, San Pedro, California

TOMASEVICH-THOMAS, VINCENT State Legislature: One of the most monumental constructions in California beside the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, is The Vincent Thomas Bridge, the suspension bridge in San Pedro. The bridge is about 2 kilometers long. Since 1940, it connects San Pedro - the harbor of Los Angeles - with city and harbor of Long Beach. Across Terminal Island it leads to big industrial suburbs of Wilmington and to two highways, Harbor and Long Beach Freeway. Before the bridge was built in 1940, the only connection to this directions was the ferry line across the harbor bay or other roundabout routs. The bridge was named in honor of assemblyman Vincent Thomas, the state deputy of San Pedro County, who was the most committed proponent in the bridge construction.

Thomas parents (father Vicko Thomas - Tomasevich and mother born in Bobovisca, Island Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia) came to America in 1903. They had eight children, and Vincent was their third child born in Biloxi, Mississippi. In Biloxi still live a considerable Croatian population. In 1918 Thomas the family moved to San Pedro. Shortly after that, the father died of Spanish flu. Young Vincent was only ten years old but he was already showing different gifts and talents. Beside going to school, he earned money as a newsboy. He was also selling to sportsmen his home made massage ointment called "snake's oil". Still a student, he was earning as a boxer about 2,500 dollars per fight. Upon finishing the high school he graduated political science at the University in Santa Clara. After that he also graduated law at the Loyola University. He did not open his own practice, but found a job in the fish factory "French Sardine". The factory was owned by Martin J. Bogdanovich from the Island of Vis. This big plant is still operating under the name of "Star Kist Tuna". While with the factory, Vincent Thomas was encouraged to engage himself in politics. He won at the elections for the California State deputy of San Pedro and became very popular and successful. Therefore he held this position for 38 years. He was reelected nineteen times in a row, more than any other politician before. Since 1922, the construction project of underwater tunnel between industrial suburb and harbor of Los Angeles has been considered. Due to Vincent Thomas efforts, it was finally decided to build a bridge instead of a tunnel. On May 28, 1960, the Governor of California Edmund G. Brown opened the construction site. The construction of the huge bridge hanging over 120 meters above the sea had begun. The construction work was completed in just three years and the bridge was opened on September 28, 1963. One of the guests of the ceremony there was Wiliam J. Jurkovich, the chief architect of the bridge construction project who is also of Croatian origin. (Eterovich, A. 2003)