John R. Quinn (politician)

John Robertson Quinn (July 17, 1889 – April 29, 1979) was an American politician who served as the sixth national commander of the American Legion from 1923 to 1924. He also served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from 1930 until 1936 and as Los Angeles County Assessor from 1938 to 1962.

John R. Quinn
Member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from the 4th district
In office
1930–1936
Preceded byReuben F. McClellan
Succeeded byLeland M. Ford
6th National Commander of The American Legion
In office
1923–1924
Preceded byAlvin M. Owsley
Succeeded byJames A. Drain
Personal details
Born
John Robertson Quinn

(1889-07-17)July 17, 1889
Porterville, California, U.S.
DiedApril 29, 1979(1979-04-29) (aged 89)
Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (BS)
Nickname"Square Shooter"
Military service
ServiceUnited States Army
Years of service1917–1919
RankMajor
CommandsBattery F, 348th Field Artillery Regiment, 91st Division
Battles
AwardsWorld War I Victory Medal

Biography edit

John Robertson Quinn was born in Porterville, California, where he grew up and attended local schools. He was a member of The American Legion who served as the sixth national commander from 1923 to 1924.[1] A successful rancher, Quinn was an active participant in the business community in Tulare and, for a time, its Ku Klux Klan. While he left in late 1922, for a time he viewed the organization as standing for "the highest ideas of Americanism.[2] He was a primary candidate for mayor of Los Angeles in 1929.[1] He was appointed by Governor C. C. Young on May 12, 1930, to replace Reuben F. McClellan on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He served until 1936, when he was replaced by Leland M. Ford. He died on April 29, 1979, at the age of 89.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "The Political Graveyard: American Legion, politicians, California". politicalgraveyard.com.
  2. ^ Bringhurst, Newell (2000). "The Ku Klux Klan in a Central California Community: Tulare County During the 1920s and 1930s". Southern California Quarterly. 82 (4): 371–72. doi:10.2307/41172036. JSTOR 41172036.
  3. ^ Los Angeles County. Los Angeles, Cal.: County of Los Angeles.

External links edit