Longtime Malibu resident Wayne Wilcox, original owner of the Malibu Riviera Motel, died Wednesday.
Wilcox was born Feb. 21, 1921 in Jerricho Springs, Missouri. He met his wife, Helen, in Hollywood, Calif., and the two were married in February of 1946. A year later, the two moved to Malibu where they broke ground for a motel. (See sidebar.)
Wayne chronicled Malibu history over the years, opening his photography studio in 1954. The studio was in operation until 1994. Wilcox focused on portrait photograph;, however, he also photographed landscapes. One of his photos, of the Point Dume area, hangs in the Bank of America building on Malibu Road, and was published in The Malibu Times in its 21st Anniversary Edition in 1967.
Wilcox suffered from Parkinson’s for the past 10 years.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, and sons, Gary and Bob Wilcox, as well as grandchildren.
No memorial service will take place.