Edwin Meese, Jr. (1897–1985) was City tax collector and treasurer for over two decades. The second generation of an old Oakland political family, Meese was the son of Edwin Meese (who had also been City Treasurer, as well as active in local politics), and father of U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III, who grew up in the  Glenview neighborhood at 4444 Edgewood Avenue.

After graduating from Oakland High School, Meese attended U.C. Berkeley. He served in the U.S. Army during WWI, then graduated from Boalt Law School in 1920. Meese next worked for Republican State Senator Arthur H. Breed Sr. He then served as deputy tax collector, and in 1947 became Oakland’s tax collector/treasurer for 20 years. All together, Meese was involved in East Bay politics for five decades.

In 1967, Mr. Meese retired and joined Barclay’s Bank in Oakland as a community relations executive. He continued to be active in church and civic organizations, including the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Kiwanis Club, American Legion Post 5 and Zion Lutheran Church.

Edwin Meese, Jr. died of liver cancer at Peralta Hospital in Oakland on June 21, 1985, at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife Leone, and his sons Edwin III, Myron, Clifford, and George. He is interned at Mountain View Cemetery.

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