William Foster Wilmurt

Architect William Wilmurt was born in New York City December 6, 1903. He received his BA from Lehigh University (in 1927) and his BA in Architecture from Columbia University (in 1931). He moved to La Jolla in 1933. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Force (as a Major in the 5^th Air Force) in China and India (1942-46). He also served as Lt. Colonel during the Korean War (ca. 1951-53) and received a Bronze Sar for engineer of airfields in Korea.

After serving various firms in New York, Chicago and in San Diego as a draftsman, designer and architect, he opened William F. Wilmurt, AIA, Architect in 1949. Early on he worked in La Jolla as the set designer for the Barn Theater group – likely as his brother, Arthur, was involved in theater. Though 1930s articles note that he was an architect, the 1940 Census lists him as a contractor working for himself. In 1949 he is noted as a member in the San Diego Chapter of the AIA, and in the 1950 Census he is listed as an architect. In 1958, he serves as President of the local AIA.

Between 1954-55, Mrs. Wilmurt served as President of the San Diego Women’s Architectural League. Mr. Wilmurt died in La Jolla on April 28, 1980.

Partial List of Projects

Bonner Hall Lab. Outfitting (1964 and 1966)
UC San Diego
*Attribution via 1970 American Architects Directory

Chapel of the Holy Quest (1960)
20560 Questhaven Road, Escondido
*Attribution via Times-Advocate on September 19, 1959)

Church of the Good Shepherd (1955) Additions (1957 and 1962)
Bonita
*Attribution via Star-News on November 14, 1955); and 1970 American Architects Directory

Cubic Corporation (1956)
San Diego
*Attribution via 1962 American Architects Directory

Gillespie Cottage (1953)
La Jolla
*With George Wallace Duncan, AIA; attribution from 1956 American Architects Directory

Hotel and Office Building For San Diego (1955)
*San Diego Federal proposal for collaboration between Frank L. Hope and Wilmurt; Not built. Attribution via San Diego Union on November 8, 1955

Insurance Building (1953)
San Diego
*With William P. Lodge, AIA; attribution from 1956 American Architects Directory

Old Globe Theater Reconstruction (1937)
Balboa Park

Padre Trail Inn (1965)
San Diego

Taylor, Sunset and Rosecrans, San Diego
*Attribution via San Diego Union on August 6, 1961

Saint James By-The-Sea Glazebrook Hall (and Parish House) (1959)
Prospect Street, La Jolla
*Attribution via 1970 American Architects Directory

Strand Shopping Center (1961)
Rainbow Drive, Palm Avenue and Strand Blvd, Imperial Beach

Southern California Mortgage & Loan (1959)
5^th Avenue and Thorn Street, San Diego
*Attribution via San Bernadino County Sun on October 29, 1958); and 1970 American Architects Directory

Valley Shopping Center Valley Shopping Center for El Cajon (1956)
Planned for Magnolia and Broadway, El Cajon
*Not built; For Hobart Development Co., attribution from San Diego Union on February 19, 1956

Wilmurt Residence (ca. 1948)
7404 Cabrillo Avenue, La Jolla
*Attribution from 1956 American Architects Directory

Village Shop Center (1958)
La Mesa
*Not built; Attribution from 1962 American Architects Directory