John E. Powers
American politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John E. Powers (November 10, 1910 – July 31, 1998) was an American politician who served as President of the Massachusetts Senate from 1959 to 1964.
John E. Powers | |
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![]() Powers circa 1945 | |
President of the Massachusetts Senate | |
In office 1959–1964 | |
Preceded by | Newland H. Holmes |
Succeeded by | Maurice A. Donahue |
Minority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate | |
In office 1950–1959 | |
Preceded by | Chester A. Dolan, Jr. |
Succeeded by | Fred I. Lamson |
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 4th Suffolk District | |
In office 1947–1964 | |
Preceded by | Leo J. Sullivan |
Succeeded by | Joe Moakley |
Personal details | |
Born | November 10, 1910 Boston, Massachusetts |
Died | July 31, 1998(1998-07-31) (aged 87) Hyannis, Massachusetts |
Political party | Democratic |
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/1939_John_Powers_Massachusetts_House_of_Representatives_%281%29.png)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/John_E._Powers11191696753_a.jpg/640px-John_E._Powers11191696753_a.jpg)
Powers, a former clam digger, messenger, and machine operator, served as a State Senator from Boston from 1940 to 1964 and Supreme Judicial Court of Suffolk County from 1964 to 1988.[1] He was twice a candidate for Mayor of Boston. He lost to incumbent John B. Hynes in the 1955 mayoral election.[2][3] Following Hynes' retirement, Powers became the front-runner for the mayorship, however he lost to Boston City Council member John F. Collins in the 1959 mayoral election,[4] despite having the most votes in the preliminary election amongst five candidates.[5]
Powers is remembered on the Boston Irish Heritage Trail.[6]