Women’s History Month Shines Spotlight on Long Beach’s Trailblazers

March marks Women’s History Month, a time to recognize women - some of whom have shaped the city of Long Beach - from groundbreaking local political leaders to athletes and entertainers with global influence. Here’s a look at some of Long Beach’s most notable history-makers.

Billie Jean King

One of the greatest tennis players in history, Billie Jean King, born in Long Beach in 1943, won 39 Grand Slam titles. Her 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” transcended sports, becoming a defining cultural moment in the fight for gender equality. She’s also the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation, helping institutionalize opportunity for women in athletics. Long Beach’s main library bears her name, and in 2009 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Eunice Noda Sato

Long Beach has had two great women mayors in its history. Born in 1921, Eunice Noda Sato broke barriers when she became Long Beach’s first woman mayor, serving from 1980 to 1982, and the first Asian American woman to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city. An educator by profession, a local middle school was dedicated in her name. She also served as president of the California Conference for Equality and Justice and three state commissions as well as the National Advisory Council on Educational Research.

Beverly O'Neill

Beverly O’Neill served for an unprecedented three terms as mayor of Long Beach from 1994 to 2006. During her time in office, she also served as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, amplifying Long Beach’s voice on the national stage. An educator and former president of Long Beach City College, she was closely associated with the City’s educational institutions. The Beverly O’Neill Theater downtown stands as a tribute to her civic leadership.

Ava DuVernay

Award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay, born in Long Beach in 1972, is the first African American woman to win Best Director at the Sundance Film Festival, be nominated for a Best Director Golden Globe, direct a film nominated for Best Picture Oscar, and direct a film with a budget over $100 million. Her work on major motion pictures—such as “Selma” and “A Wrinkle in Time”—has made her the highest grossing Black woman director in American box office history.

Laura Yeager

Major General Laura L. Yeager began her military journey at Cal State Long Beach through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. A former aeromedical evacuation helicopter pilot, she built a distinguished career in the Army National Guard. In 2019, she became the first woman to command a United States Army infantry division, a milestone in the history of U.S. military leadership.

Jenni Rivera

Mexican music icon Dolores Janney “Jenni” Rivera Saavedra was born in Long Beach in 1969. A chart-topping talent, she won the Lo Nuestro Award nine consecutive times for Regional Mexican Female Artist of the Year. Her 10th studio album, Jenni, became her first No. 1 record on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in the United States. Prior to her tragic death in a plane crash in 2012, she was also known for her philanthropy and advocacy of charitable causes in Southern California.

Barbara Erickson London

Barbara Erickson London served as a commanding officer for Long Beach’s 6th Ferrying Group at Daugherty Field as part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Born in 1920, she transported military aircraft across the country during World War II, logging extraordinary distances and flight hours in service of the war effort. She was the only woman awarded an Air Medal during the war, and a roadway at Long Beach Airport is named in her honor.

Evelyn Knight

Evelyn Knight connected Long Beach to the national Civil Rights Movement when she marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma in 1965. She served a state government appointment and was involved in local advocacy efforts in her lifelong commitment to equity and justice.

Dorothy Still Danner

Born in 1914 and raised in Long Beach, Dorothy Still Danner served as a Navy nurse during World War II. Captured in Manila in 1942, she endured three years as a prisoner of war as one of the “Twelve Anchors.” Despite harsh conditions, she continued caring for fellow prisoners throughout her captivity. For her courage and service, she received numerous military honors, including the Bronze Star and the Prisoner of War Medal.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy rose to fame as a Nickelodeon star before becoming a bestselling author. Her 2022 memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” became a publishing phenomenon and sparked widespread conversations about child stardom, emotional abuse and mental health. Born in Long Beach in 1992, she represents a contemporary voice with Long Beach roots.

Together, these women reflect the many ways leadership and influence can take shape — through public service, military valor, athletic excellence, artistic achievement and community advocacy. During Women’s History Month, their stories remind us that the history of Long Beach is inseparable from the women who helped build it.