"Horace-Rains" [January 13,1912-June 9,1998]

He was one of three sons born in Atlanta to Igolias & Elizabeth Rains.The family moved to Columbus,Ohio,when Horace was a baby.Horace completed his education in public schools in Columbus,and attended Wilberforce University on a track scholarship.He received his B.S.degree in 1938,then taught physical education at Lincoln University,Jefferson City,Missouri,before being drafted into the Army in 1941.


After serving in Europe and the Southwest Pacific during World War II,he enrolled at Meharry College in 1949.Horace married Frances McHie,with whom he eventually had two children.In 1953,he received  his M.D. degree and began and internship at Los Angeles County General Hospital and at UCLA.In 1954,entered private medical and family practice in Long Beach California.It was during these years that,as the second African American family in their southern California neighborhood,they experienced continuous racism for years.The family suffered such severe vandalism to their property that Horace armed himself,he and his wife decided to stay and fight for their rights.


Before beginning his own business as a physician,Horace was the first African American on staff  at St.Mary's Long Beach Memorial and Long Beach Community Hospitals.Active during the Civil Rights movement,Horace was president of the Long Beach NAACP,chairman of the United Civil Rights Committee,and was "Man of Year" of the Long Beach American Legion in 1965.In 1988,he retired from his practice due to health issues.


He became active in many organizations such as The Wilberforce Alumni Association,the Belmont Shore Lions Club,and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.Horace was involved with the Long Beach City Planning Commission and the City of Hope.