William Mellon
October 20, 1925 - January 10, 2021 Carmel-by-the-Sea
William (Knox) Mellon, Jr. was born to William (Knox) Mellon, Sr. and Zelma Cochran Mellon in Houston, Texas on October 20, 1925. Knox was 5 years old when the family moved to San Marino, California, where his father built the first house on Oxford Street, across from the Huntington Library. Knox attended the Stonewood and Huntington schools.
For high school, Knox attended the Midland School in Los Olivos, where he played soccer. Knox enlisted in the army in 1943, serving in the 32nd Division in the Pacific, participating in the long road back, from New Guinea to Luzon and Japan. He was present at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines when General Macarthur returned the Philippine government to President Osmena.
Knox graduated from Pomona College with a B.A. in history and received his Master’s in History from UCLA and his Ph.D. in History from Claremont Graduate University.
In 1948, Knox married Josselyn Bale. They had four children, Lesley, Andrea, Laura and Fred.
Knox taught history at Immaculate Heart College. In 1975, he was appointed California’s first State Historic Preservation Officer California and Director of the State Office of Historic Preservation by Governor Jerry Brown. Thus began Knox’s long involvement and leadership in historic preservation. Knox had his own historic preservation consulting firm, Mellon & Associates. He returned to Sacramento for a second time as California State Historic Preservation Officer and Director of the Office of Historic Preservation under Governor Gray Davis. Knox served for many years as the Executive Director of the California Missions Foundation and of the Mission Inn Foundation in Riverside. A nationally renowned figure in historic preservation, Knox received the prestigious Crowninshield Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the California Preservation Foundation’s President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement, and both the Norman Neuerburg Award and a lifetime achievement award from the California Missions Foundation, as well as other awards and recognition.
Knox also was active in politics. He was the Democratic nominee for the 24th Congressional District in 1962, a member of California Democratic Council, Coordinator for Volunteers for Jerry Brown’s first campaign for Governor, and served on George Brown’s 1972 congressional campaign.
Knox enjoyed playing tennis and golf. He loved both the visual and performing arts. He served on the Board of Directors of the Carmel Bach Festival, the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts and on the Board of Trustees of the California Historical Society. Knox and Carlotta moved to the Carmel Highlands in 2010.
Knox was a gentleman and a scholar. He had a quick wit, keen intelligence, a good sense of humor and was a marvelous storyteller. He loved animals, particularly his two dachshunds Thor and Baron, his boyhood mutt Mike, boyhood St. Bernard Josephine and his German Shepherds and was fond of the cats wife Carlotta brought into the Mellon household.
He is survived by wife of 48 years, Carlotta Herman Mellon, daughter Andrea Mellon Schneider, son Fred (Carrie) Mellon, brother David Mellon, grandchildren Heaven Burgo, Conner and Katie Mellon, and Julia Schneider and great grandchildren Jeff and Amber Burgo, brothers-in-law Gary (Beverly) Herman, Richard (Debi) Herman, Donald (Judi) Herman, sister-in-law Kathleen (John) Nally and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Knox was predeceased by first wife Josslyn Bale Mellon and daughters Laura and Lesley.
A celebration of life will be held when it is safe to do so.
Donations in Knox’s memory can be made to the California Missions Foundation, Carmel Bach Festival, the SPCA for Monterey County or the non-profit of your choice.