De Graff Austin was born in Fallbrook, California, in 1895. He attended Pomona College and served in the Army Air Service during World War I. From 1946 to 1971, Austin's public service career in San Diego included terms as city council member, vice mayor, county supervisor, and port commissioner. He established the San Diego City-County Camp Commission, and an outdoor education program that achieved national recognition. Austin died in 1980. In this interview, Austin discusses the growth of the Port of San Diego. He also talks about the men who made it possible such as John Spreckels and George Marston. Names mentioned during the interview include: William Fisher, Admiral Chester Nimitz, Hiram Johnson, and Joe Brennan.