Long Beach Press Telegram Wed. 32 Apr 1930 p. 8: “Honor Surprises Clerk, Miss Edith Rhea Long in Office, by Nan Blake. 'I just cannot believe it is true. It seems that it must be a dream. It never for a moment entered my head that I might be appointed to the position of City Clerk when J. Oliver Brison, my chief, resigned.' This was the expression today of Miss Edith A. Rhea in commenting upon her appointment made yesterday by the City Council. Still dazed by her elevation from chief deputy under Mr. Brison, Miss Rhea said that while she is not of a suspicious nature, it seems that there must be a 'catch' in the proceedings somewhere. 'It seems like a story of some kind, but about some one else.' She said. 'I came here in 1908 fresh from school at Redlands and went to the city clerk's office. I was the only stenographer in the city government and I guess I worked in every department but that of city planning which was only added within the last few years. We only had three people in the city clerk's office at that time. Then the city started to grow by leaps and bounds until now it is the fourth largest in the State. If I had stayed in one office this long in a city that had not progressed I would have been in a rut, but here the growth has been so rapid that one had to run to keep from standing still.' Miss Rhea said that she never had been a politician, but had devoted herself to her work as if it had been in a corporation instead of a city government. 'I was raised in the days when children, particularly girls, were taught to be seen and not heard,' she laughed 'I guess I learned that lesson pretty well. All this fuss that the office is making upsets me. When I started from home this morning I was thrilled at the thought of my promotion, but I wished that I was just coming in as usual with J. Oliver Brison still my boss. I do want everybody to know that I appreciated the honor that has been paid me and I will do my best to prove worthy of it.' The staff of the city clerk's office presented Miss Rhea with a basket of flowers in token of their delight at here appointment. Under the arrangements affected Miss Rhea will be given three months leave of absence by the Civil Service Board so she will not lose her rating. The Council fixed her salary at $300, the same as that received by Mr. Brison. Miss Rhea is known through the city for her high efficiency and her retiring and unassuming manner. Probably no one person has made more sincere friends than she has in the time she has served her city.” “Former City Clerk Lauds Successor. In turning over the office to his successor today, J. Oliver Brison, whose resignation as City Clerk was accepted by the Council yesterday afternoon, took occasion to express his pleasure at the appointment of Miss Edith A. Rhea, who has been Chief Deputy City Clerk. 'I want to repeat what I said to the Council yesterday, that the city is to be congratulated on the selection of Miss Rhea,' said Mr. Brison. 'It is a satisfaction to me that the affairs of the department are to be in the hands of one so well qualified in every respect as the new City Clerk. Miss Rhea is capable, conscientious and loyal. She has the thorough knowledge of city government. Her promotion to the position of head of the department in which she has given the people of Long Beach many years of valuable work is a fine and fitting recognition of merit in public service.'”