Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Branch, Leslie Walker March 3, 1885 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jessica Orr orr@hawaii.com January 15, 2010, 2:06 pm

Source: The Story of Hawaii and its Builders. Published by the Honolulu Star Bulletin, 1925
Author: Edited by George F. Nellist

LESLIE WALKER BRANCH, Telephone Manager-Radio Engineer. The world’s latest 
scientific marvel-radio-telegraphy-engaged the attention of Leslie W. Branch 
early in life and his knowledge of that science led to his present position as 
secretary and director of the Hawaii Telephone Co., at Hilo, after service as 
district communication superintendent for the 14th Naval District during the 
World War.
  Born at Georgetown, Texas, March 3, 1885, he is the son of James Alexander 
and Annie (Field) Branch. He was educated in the grammar schools and the 
Sherwood High School, Sherwood, Texas.
  Mr. Branch entered the United States navy in 1904 as an apprentice and took 
up the study of electricity, being a chief electrician at the time of his 
discharge in 1908. He was in charge of the radio station of the Hawaiian 
Telegraph & Telephone Co., Kahuku, Oahu, 1908-1909; engineer in charge of the 
power plant, United States Naval Station, Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco 
Bay, 1909-1912, and radio engineer, Mutual Telephone Co., 1912 to April 6, 
1917, when he was recalled to active service in charge of the naval radio 
office, Honolulu, with the rank of ensign, which he had held in the Naval 
Militia, Hawaii, since 1916. In August, 1917, he was promoted to junior grade 
lieutenant and ordered to duty as district communications superintendent, 
March 1, 1918. From August, 1918, to June, 1919, he was signal officer aboard 
Admiral Dewey’s former flagship, the U.S.S. Oregon, being placed on the 
inactive list of the navy in 1920 with the rank of lieutenant, senior grade, 
U. S. Naval Reserve Force.
  Mr. Branch returned to Hawaii after his naval service and was appointed to 
his present position of manager of the Hawaii Telephone Co., later being made 
secretary and a director of the corporation. He is a member of the Hilo Yacht 
and Rotary Clubs. Mr. Branch married Cora Estella Lyons Dec. 5, 1908.


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