A Four-Generation Timeline
At the turn of the century, Ernest W. Dewhurst starts a construction company in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, England.
Ernest Dewhurst (far left) and his team of carpenters in Bexhill-on-Sea, England.
After emigrating to the United States via Ellis Island, Ernie Dehurst settles in La Jolla and begins de Dewhurst tradition of building homes.
The beginnings of development in La Jolla.
Ernie with his family at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club in 1931.
Parades remain a Dewhurst tradition in La Jolla.
Walter Dewhurst joins the firm to uphold the family tradition through 20th century. Circa 1948.
Walter joins the wave of surfers to grow up in La Jolla.
Like his father before him, Walter is an innovator in the building industry in La Jolla, building some of the area's finest homes.
Walter Dewhurst is commissioned by the town counsel to resurrect the cross atop Mount Soledad. Circa 1950.
The inauguration of the Soledad Cross, provided by Walt Dewhurst's company. To this day, an annual Memorial Day celebration is held in the shadow of the cross.
La Jolla Town Council President Walter Dewhurst at the 1965 Christmas parade. Walter becomes known as the "Mayor of La Jolla" due to his many civic responsibilities.
Walter and Virene Dewhurst at the 1965 Jewel Ball.
Walter's son George joins the firm in 1976, carrying it into the next century.
In 1962 George Dewhurst joins the Peace Corps. He then completes an MBA at Thunderbird University before heading home to take the reins of the family business.
George builds on the Dewhurst reputation for quality and craftsmanship with this home in La Jolla.
George continues the family tradition in business, sport, and civic dedication.
Incoming president of the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club in 1984, George leads many initiatives in the community.
Inspired by his visit to the National War Memorial, George Dewhurst conceives of and erects the Mount Soledad War Memorial.
George leads an effort to remodel the YMCA La Jolla Firehouse as a center for youth. Circa 1984.
As La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club President, George Dewhurst plants the seed for many La Jolla traditions.
In the La Jolla Rough Water Swim in the 1970s and 80s, Chester Dewhurst (Pancho), is one of the youngest participants.
George, Walter, and Pancho: three generations of Dewhursts.
Pancho Dewhurst joins GDC Construction in 2005 to continue the tradition of building custom homes in La Jolla and throughout San Diego County.
Pancho Dewhurst and his father are the 3rd and 4th generation of Dewhurst builders in La Jolla.
In 2009 Pancho Dewhurst takes the reins at GDC Construction.
Influenced by the modernists and his studies in Italy, Pancho makes his mark in the family business.
The renovation of the La Jolla Community Center represents Pancho's contribution to the community and the continued Dewhurst dedication to the community.
Pancho, George, and the GDC crew work together on a condominium project in Mission Bay, San Diego.
The Dewhurst civic conscience pervades with the remodel of the La Jolla Firehouse 13.
The La Jolla Christmas parade continues with GDC Construction and the Dewhurst family touch.
Pancho and the GDC Construction crew continue to adorn the tree his father planted.
In 2008 Pancho marries Brandy. Together they have two children, Ava and Austin, who are the fifth generation of Dewhursts in La Jolla.
Ernest Dewhurst began his construction career building in England before emigrating to America in the early 1900s. Hollywood called first—Ernest spent years constructing elaborate movie sets for the emerging film industry. But in 1920, a single residential project in a quiet seaside village changed everything. One home in La Jolla, and Ernest was hooked. He moved his family to this pristine coastal community that year, becoming one of the only builders in what was then a relatively uninhabited town.
Even then, Ernest understood that building by the coast required special expertise—knowledge that would be passed down through generations.
Walter Dewhurst grew up watching his father shape La Jolla’s early landscape. As the village transformed from hidden gem to coveted address, Walter was there, hammer in hand. The family’s reputation grew project by project, house by house, each one built to withstand not just salt air and coastal weather, but time itself.
During this era, the Dewhursts became synonymous with quality construction in La Jolla, known for understanding both the technical challenges of coastal building and the aesthetic vision of the emerging community.
Walter Dewhurst was selected to build the third Mount Soledad Cross—a 29-foot concrete monument that would become one of San Diego’s most recognizable landmarks. When the cross was damaged by a crane during installation, Walter’s team persevered, completing what would become the centerpiece of today’s National Veterans Memorial.
This project demonstrated the Dewhurst commitment to tackling challenging, meaningful projects that serve the greater community.
The Dewhurst family began what would become a nearly 60-year tradition of participating in the La Jolla Christmas Parade, cementing their role not just as builders, but as integral members of the community fabric.
George Dewhurst, third generation, formally establishes GDC Construction Inc., transforming the family craft into a modern corporation while maintaining the personal touch that had defined Dewhurst building for 80 years.
George brought professional structure to the family business—contracts, systems, and processes—without sacrificing the handshake integrity that built the Dewhurst name.
Your vision deserves construction expertise earned over four generations. Let’s discuss how precision craftsmanship and transparent communication can transform ambitious plans into the home you’ll love for decades.
