Howard J. Whitmore Jr. Explained

Howard J. Whitmore Jr.
Office:Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts
Term Start:January 1, 1954
Term End:December 31, 1959
Predecessor:Theodore R. Lockwood
Successor:Donald L. Gibbs
Office2:Metropolitan District Commissioner
Term Start2:1964
Term End2:1970
Predecessor2:Robert F. Murphy
Successor2:John W. Sears
Office3:Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Term3:1947–1953
Birth Date:May 9, 1905[1]
Birth Place:Newton, Massachusetts
Death Date:June 19, 1998 (aged 93)[2]
Party:Republican
Residence:Newton, Massachusetts
Alma Mater:Harvard College
Occupation:Investment counsel

Howard J. Whitmore Jr. (May 9, 1905 – June 19, 1998) was an American politician who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1947–1953 and Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts from 1954–1959.

Early years

A native of Newton, Massachusetts, Whitmore played baseball for Newton High School.[3] He went on to Harvard College, was a "star right-hander" pitching for the Crimson baseball team, and graduated in 1929.[4] [5] After his freshman year at Harvard in 1926, he played summer baseball for Chatham in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Political career

Whitmore's political career began in 1940 when he was elected to the Newton Board of Aldermen.[2] From 1947–1953, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he was the Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. He left the House in 1953 after being elected Mayor of Newton.

Whitmore did not seek reelection in 1959. He was considered to be a frontrunner for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1960, but dropped out of the race after he lost the convention vote to John A. Volpe. He was the Republican nominee for United States Senate in 1964. He lost to incumbent Ted Kennedy by over one million votes.

Later years

After his defeat in the 1964 Senate race, Whitmore was named Commissioner of the Metropolitan District Commission, a post he held until 1970.[2] He died in Boston, Massachusetts in 1998 at age 93.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1951-1952 .
  2. News: Howard Whitmore Jr., 93; legislator, Newton mayor, '64 Senate candidate . https://web.archive.org/web/20121103131310/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/30385083.html?dids=30385083:30385083&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT . dead . November 3, 2012 . Boston Globe . June 21, 1998 . 2010-08-12 .
  3. News: Chatham Star Players . Supp . Harwich Independent . Harwich, MA . July 14, 1926 .
  4. Web site: Balltossers Face St. Bonaventure in Tenth of Season . The Harvard Crimson . May 4, 1929 . June 11, 2020.
  5. Web site: PETERSON PITCHES PENN TO 3-0 WIN OVER CRIMSON News The Harvard Crimson.