Nathaniel N. ‘Nate’ Holden, was born June 19, 1929 in Macon, Georgia. A Democrat representing Southwest Los Angeles, he earned his BS in Applied Physics, and master’s degree in Systems Engineering from West Coast University in New Jersey. He worked for Bell Labs in New Jersey, and moved to California in 1955, where he worked in the aerospace industry. Nate Holden became active in Democratic Party politics and became President of the California Democratic Council in 1970. He was elected to the California State Senate in 1974, and served as Chair of the Senate Elections and Reapportionment Committee, vice chair of the Senate Public Utilities, Transit and Energy Committee and chair of the Senate Select Committee on Southern California Rapid Transit. In 1975, Nate Holden passed legislation to require public schools and educational institutions to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his contributions to the U.S. civil rights movement. He passed legislation to provide health care for sickle cell anemia sufferers. He won approval of his bill to provide state funding for Baldwin Hills Regional Park. He completed one term, and in 1987 ran for the Los Angeles City Council, was elected and stayed in office until 2002.