Walter Karabian
The Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced that former Majority Leader of the California State Assembly and well-respected veteran attorney, Walter J. Karabian will be honored with the Legacy Award at its Annual Gala Banquet on October 25, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.
Born in Fresno, California, Walter Karabian is the oldest son of John Karabian and Zevart Shishmanian. Karabian’s paternal family arrived in Fresno in 1896 from Bitlis, and his maternal family were from Dikranagert, Turkish occupied Armenia.
Karabian graduated from Roosevelt High School in Fresno and later continued his education at the University of Southern California, where he earned a Bachelors of Arts in History, a Masters Degree in Public Administration and a Juris Doctorate from USC Law School. He was also elected Junior Class President and Student Body President becoming one of the most successful graduates in that era.
After completing his education, Karabian served as Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County for two years. Soon after, Karabian became an active political figure in the Democratic Party and moved directly into politics. In 1966, he was elected to the California State Assembly. He was one of the youngest men to ever be elected to the Assembly and only the third American-Armenian to be elected to public office in the history of the United States.
While a member of the Legislature, Karabian published various legal articles and gained a reputation as a significant legal author as well as a Legislator. He made substantial contributions to the development of California law concerning crime, prison reform, education, civil rights, free speech, and the preservation of endangered species in California. Notably, Karabian used his influence to bring awareness to the Armenian Genocide in California. In 1967, at a time when most people were not aware of the Genocide, Karabian authored the first resolution commemorating the Armenian Genocide in the State Assembly.
In 1972, Karabian introduced California’s ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment which was designed to guarantee equal rights to women. Karabian also authored the first Freedom Act protecting sources of news information, the Endangered Species Act, which preceded the National Endangered Species Act and legislation requiring child IQ testing be completed in the child’s native language.
In 1972, he was selected to serve in the powerful position of Majority Leader. At the time, he was only 33 years old and became the youngest Majority Leader in California’s history. Later, he would become a member of the important Rules Committee.
After leaving the California Legislature in 1975, he established and led his Los Angeles law practice for 45 years. Karabian was selected as the co-chairman of a trade delegation that visited Cuba during Jimmy Carter’s presidency, and served as the legal counsel for a legislative delegation to the Philippines in 1979. Karabian was also selected to speak on behalf of a number of Armenian organizations relating to Armenian grievances and objectives before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.
Karabian has had a lasting impact on the political landscape of America, particularly in California. Politically sharp and insightful on public policy, he has the unique ability of identifying promising individuals and supporting their candidacy for office. To name a few, he has played a significant role in the election and rise of Hubert Humphrey, who Karabian served as Southern California Co-Chairman for the Democratic presidential nomination for President of the United States; Bill Lockyer, who Karabian first approached to run for the California Assembly and who would later become Attorney General and State Treasurer of California; California Governor Edmund G. Brown in his several campaigns for office; and former Los Angeles City Mayor James K. Hahn. A central figure in Los Angeles city politics, in 1992 he was appointed by Mayor Tom Bradley as “Facilitatorâ€
