Photo Caption:
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The February 28, 1963 retirement ceremony of keeper William (Bill) Owens was held at the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. Keeper Owens started his career with the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1931 at California’s Point Conception Lighthouse as the 3rd assistant keeper. Working his way up through the ranks, he went on to serve at Point Sur Lighthouse, Point Arena Lighthouse, and finally at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse where he was the head keeper from 1952 to 1963. He lived at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse with his wife, Isabel, and five daughters. When the U.S. Coast Guard took over the United States Lighthouse Service in 1939, Bill Owens chose to stay on as a uniformed, civilian keeper of the Coast Guard, rather than accepting a military keeper position. At the time of his retirement, it was believed that he was the last keeper from the U.S. Lighthouse Service still on duty. Born in 1900, William (Bill) Owens passed away in 1984. (Photo courtesy Images of America book, Point Cabrillo Light Station by Bruce Rogerson, courtesy Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association and the Owens family)
Back to the edition of: May/Jun 2022
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