How and Why Garfield High School Was So Named
Garfield High School was named for James Abram Garfield, statesman, politician, general, and last of the "Log Cabin" Presidents. When the Los Angeles Board of Education decided to establish a high school in East Los Angeles in 1925, Rosco C. Ingalls, boys' vice-principal of Lincoln High School was selected as principal for the new school and was asked to select a name. Mr. Ingalls, feeling that James A. Garfield was an inspiring example to all youth of what a person can accomplish, no matter how poor, if he sets his heart and mind upon it, named the school for the 20th President of the United States.
(Information from the Garfield Log, November 13, 1942, page 1, column 4)
