John W. Witt

John W. Witt (August 30, 1932 – November 4, 2018) was an American attorney who served as the City Attorney of San Diego, California for 27 years, from 1969 to 1996.

Early life and education

He was born and raised in Los Angeles, the son of John Udo Witt and Alice Josephine Westervelt. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Hollywood High School. He attended the University of Southern California on an NROTC scholarship; he played baseball as a freshman and wrote for the Daily Trojan. Upon receiving his BA degree he was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, later transferring to the Marine Corps Reserves until he retired with the rank of colonel. He graduated from the University of Southern California School of Law in 1960 and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1961.

Career

Immediately upon passing the bar in 1961 he went to work in the Office of the City Attorney, serving variously as a prosecutor, civil trial lawyer, and public utility specialist. He retired at the end of his seventh term in 1996. and Lions International, as well as his local church, Holy Trinity Parish. In 1975 the National Court of Honor of the Boy Scouts presented him with its Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

Personal life He married Lenora Jane Ticknor in 1961 and they settled in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego. They had three children and four grandchildren.