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(Feb. 15, 2016) -- LBREPORT.com is saddened to report the passing of retired Councilman Paul Richard Deats, who passed away overnight at age 96. Councilman Deats served on the Long Beach City Council from 1966 to 1972 (two terms) joining the Council the same year as Councilman Tom Clark.
Councilman Deats was the father of long time Long Beach taxpayer advocate/Los Cerritos neighborhood advocate John Deats and his sister, Paulaine Deats Dummit.
Son John Deats tells LBREPORT.com that when his father was on the City Council, LB's Mayor (chosen by the Council) and all Councilmembers shared a single secretary [compared to the current six figure taxpayer costs for each of nine Council offices plus a full time non-voting Mayor] and from 1970 forward, Councilman Deats decided he'd pay for a secretary out of his own pocket.
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Retired Councilman Deats passed away quietly in his sleep following a lengthy battle with Lewy Body dementia (the same neurological illness that took the life of Casey Kasem.)
A WWII Navy veteran, Mr. Deats participated in the invasion of the Philippines, returned to Long Beach, went into business for himself at age 26, started three grocery stores and a liquor store (divesting himself from the latter prior to running for Council.) He later co-founded Belmont Savings and Loan, the innovator in drive-up/drive-through banking. It grew to six offices and was sold to Great Western in 1970.
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Retired Councilman Deats was a familiar figure riding with the ceremonial Long Beach Mounted Police. He joined as a riding member in 1953 and remained a life member (a title he held at the time of his passing.)
Mr. Deats was also appointed to the California Horseracing Commission under then-Governor George Deukmejian and served in that capacity throughout the Deukmejian administration.
Mr. Deats' first wife Lorraine predeceased him. He and second wife Muffy resided in the San Ynez Valley.
LBREPORT.com expresses our condolences to Councilman Deats' family and friends. Arrangements are pending.
