Albert Alcala describes growing up in San Pedro from his birth in 1949 to the 1960s when the city was primarily a small immigrant community, and through the time the Port of Los Angeles was built and displaced many families. He describes his father as one of the original thriving businessmen who immigrated from Granada, Spain, and his connections to other town folklore and notable people.

Art Almeida was born on December 27, 1928, in San Pedro. His mother came to the United States from Ciudad Guerrero in northern Mexico when she was about six years old. His father, born in Santa María de Los Angeles in Jalisco, came to the US in 1909 and married Art's mother around 1917 in Morenci, Arizona. Art's father was a hacendado from the landed gentry, and his mother's family crossed the border into Morenci, Arizona. Art's father was a kindly man, about six feet tall, fair-skinned, and articulate.

George De La Torre Jr. was born in 1935 in Wilmington, California. His father, of Mexican heritage, migrated from Mexico in the early 1920s with his family, initially settling in Arizona before moving to California. His grandfather worked for a railroad company. George’s mother, of Japanese descent, came to the United States with her parents, who established a small grocery store in Wilmington. During World War II, George's family temporarily lived with relatives in Los Angeles to avoid being sent to internment camps.

Joan Milke Flores was interviewed for the Port of Los Angeles Centennial Oral History Project. Joan Milke Flores is a prominent political figure and long-time resident of Los Angele. She began her political journey by connecting with individuals and various community groups andn introduced the "Day in the District" initiative, allowing her to interact closely with constituents and understand their needs better. In the interview, Flores reflects on her upbringing in a politically active family, with her father involved in union activities.

Lorenzo DiCarlo was born in 1924 in San Pedro, California. He spent his entire life there and worked in his family's bakery business. Lorenzo's family immigrated to the United States at the turn of the 20th century, initially settling in Steubenville, Ohio, before moving to San Pedro. His grandfather, after working on the railroad, started a bakery in Ohio, which later relocated to San Pedro following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. 

Martin Cox, an historian and maritime enthusiast, has dedicated his career to uncovering the rich history of the Los Angeles Steamship Company (LASSCO). Born in England, Cox's interest in maritime history was sparked during his youth by a brief mention of LASSCO in a book. This curiosity led him to relocate to Los Angeles, where he extensively researched the company's history. Cox's research involved thorough investigations at libraries, archives, and utilizing online resources, including eBay, to collect brochures and other historical materials.

Ray Falk was interviewed for the Port of Los Angeles Centennial Oral History Project. He was born on September 23, 1922, on Terminal Island (formerly East San Pedro). Falk's grandfather, a German-born Swede, was an entrepreneurial ship captain who first arrived in San Pedro in 1877. He established a business in the area, including the Pepper Tree Saloon, and invested in property and ships, significantly contributing to the port's early maritime activities. Ray Falk recounts his early life on Terminal Island, where his father operated a fishing boat with a Japanese crew.

Robert A. Curry was born in 1931 in Toledo, Ohio. In 1939, his father moved to San Francisco, California, and the family relocated to Los Angeles in 1940. Bob grew up in the transportation and trucking industry. The family’s transition to the West Coast marked the beginning of their involvement in the trucking business. Bob’s father founded California Cartage Company during the war years, around 1943-1944, focusing on transporting aircraft parts between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Roy Coats was born on January 31, 1914, in Ladora, Iowa. He graduated high school in Des Moines, Iowa, where his family moved after his father's business failed during the Great Depression. Coats enlisted in the Navy in 1933 after a prolonged waiting period and trained in San Diego. He served on the USS Chester and the USS Houston, both heavy cruisers. After his naval service, he transitioned to a civilian career and began working at Cal Ship on Terminal Island in February 1941, where he worked in shipbuilding during World War II.