William G. Bonelli

William G. Bonelli
Born	November 9, 1895 Kingman, Arizona
Died	November 21, 1970 Mexico
Alma mater	University of Southern California Occidental College Southwestern Law School
Occupation	Politician

William G. Bonelli (1895–1970) was a California Republican politician who became a member of the state Board of Equalization who fled to Mexico to avoid arrest on a corruption indictment.

Son of a pioneer American family of Swiss-English descent, Bonelli was born in Kingman, Arizona and moved to Los Angeles in 1912. He entered the University of Southern California and received his bachelor of arts degree in 1916. He then served in the Aviation Section of the U.S. Army in 1918-19 and remained in the Reserve as a pilot until 1934.

Bonelli obtained his master of arts degree from Occidental College in 1923 and his law degree from Southwestern Law School in 1924; he was admitted to the California Bar in 1925.

He became a promoter of the Southern California aircraft industry and the Santa Clarita Valley. He purchased Hoot Gibson's rodeo venue in 1937 in Saugus, California and ran rodeos until a quarter-mile dirt track was built in 1939; it was later renamed Bonelli Ranch Stadium. It hosted a myriad of events showcasing midget cars and hot rods (roadsters). Later, the track was expanded to one-third mile. In 1954, the surface was paved and the name changed to Saugus Speedway. The paved track brought on the transition to , which was the primary format through 1995, when the track was closed.

Bonelli had two sons, Robert, of Phoenix, Arizona, and William Jr. of Saugus, California. He died November 21, 1970, in Mexico.

He was associate professor of political science at Occidental College for seven years, until 1929.

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