Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

John "Alex" Alexander

1924-1993

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 3, 2013

1. John "Alex" Alexander Marker

Inscription. John "Alex" Alexander spent his entire working life at Naval Supply Center Oakland. Symbolic of the many dedicated civilians who worked on the base, Alex inspired others through his tireless work on behalf of the community at large and promoted public service among his coworkers. He received many awards and citations, including Father of the Year Award from the Institute of Black Studies in Oakland and the Civilian Meritorious Service Medal, the United States Navy's highest civilian award. Alex taught, simply by the eloquence of his example, that a well-lived life reflects the amount of "weeding" done during the growing season.

"Community work was something that I felt needed to be done,so I did it. It's also selfish because I enjoy it." - John Alexander

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work.

Location. 37° 48.202′ N, 122° 19.414′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is in the Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. It is on Middle Harbor Road near 7th Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is in Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. Enter the park through the entrance with the flagpole (really the USS Oakland mast) - park nearby, and walk south about

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

500 feet along the service road parallel to the fence, and the marker will be on the right. Alternatively, drive along this road and park further down the road and walk back to the marker. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oakland CA 94607, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: USS Oakland CL-AA 95 (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Training Wall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rear Admiral R.J. "Bear" Arnold, U.S.N. (approx. 0.2 miles away); USS Oakland Mast (approx. ¼ mile away); Chappell Roland Hayes (approx. 0.3 miles away); Western Pacific Mole (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Shorey House (approx. 1.2 miles away); West Oakland and Prescott (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.

John "Alex" Alexander - marker detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 3, 2013

2. John "Alex" Alexander - marker detail

John "Alex" Alexander Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 3, 2013

3. John "Alex" Alexander Marker - wide view

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2013, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 742 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on February 9, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 8, 2013, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.