Thomas J. Hannon
Hannon circa 1935
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 12th Suffolk District
In office
1955–1957
Preceded byPhilip A. Chapman
Succeeded byRobert H. Quinn
President of the Boston City Council
In office
1948–1948
Preceded byJohn B. Kelly
Succeeded byWilliam F. Hurley
In office
1943–1943
Preceded byThomas E. Linehan
Succeeded byJohn E. Kerrigan
Member of the Boston City Council for Ward 13
In office
1942–1952
Preceded byEdward A. Hutchinson Jr.
Succeeded byDistrict eliminated
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 13th Suffolk District
In office
1935–1941
Preceded byJohn V. Mahoney
Succeeded byGerald F. Scally
Personal details
BornDecember 9, 1900
Dorchester, Massachusetts, US
DiedJune 27, 1983 (aged 82)
Hyannis, Massachusetts, US
Resting placeAncient Cemetery, Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary MacInnis (1948–1983; his death)
Alma materCanisius College
Catholic University
Northeastern University School of Law
OccupationLawyer

Thomas Joseph Hannon (December 9, 1900 – June 27, 1983) was an American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1935 to 1941 and from 1955 to 1957 and the Boston City Council from 1942 to 1952.

Early life

Hannon was born on December 9, 1900, in Boston.[1] He grew up in the Uphams Corner neighborhood of Dorchester. As a young man, Hannon worked as a longshoreman and for the Boston Department of Public Works to help support his family. He graduated from The English High School and studied at the Oblate Seminary in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. He decided to pursue a legal career rather than the priesthood and graduated from Canisius College, Catholic University, and the Northeastern University School of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1928 and started a practice with his brother Edwin F. Hannon.[2]

Political career

Hannon was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1934.[1] In 1938 he was a candidate for Democratic floor leader. He lost to John F. Aspell 64 votes to 24 (a third candidate, John P. White, received 2 votes).[3] In 1940, Hannon ran for the 4th Suffolk District seat in the Massachusetts Senate, but lost to fellow representative Leo J. Sullivan by 83 votes.[4]

In 1941, Hannon was elected to represent Ward 13 on the Boston City Council. In 1943 he succeeded in having a playground in his neighborhood named after his mother, Mary A. Hannon.[2] He served as Council president in 1943 and 1948. During his second term as president Hannon implemented new rules to speed up council business and increase decorum.[5][6] In 1951, the Boston City Council switched from a body consisting of 22 ward members to a nine-member board elected at-large.[7] He finished 19th in the 65-candidate preliminary election, which kept him off the general election ballot.[8] Hannon ran again in 1953 and finished 15th in the general election.[9]

In 1955, Hannon returned to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[1] In 1956 lost his bid for renomination to future Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Massachusetts Attorney General Robert H. Quinn by 17 votes.[10]

Later life

Hannon continued to practice law until his retirement in 1978. He spent his later years in Hyannis, Massachusetts. He died on June 27, 1983, at Cape Cod Hospital.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1955-56. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Coughlin, William P. (June 28, 1983). "Thomas Hannon, Ex-Representative From Dorchester, City Council Head". The Boston Globe.
  3. ↑ Merrill, John D. (January 6, 1938). "Hurley Asks State Buy 'L'". The Boston Daily Globe.
  4. ↑ "Board Weighs Gallagher's Plea Against Recount". The Boston Daily Globe. September 28, 1940.
  5. ↑ "Hannon Pledges to Speed Council Business; Curley Sees $7 Jump in Boston's Tax Rate". The Boston Daily Globe. January 6, 1948.
  6. ↑ "New Rules Adopted by City Council to Improve Decorum". The Boston Daily Globe. January 27, 1948.
  7. ↑ "Archives Guide ~ City Council". Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ↑ Annual Report of the Election Department. 1952. pp. 90–95.
  9. ↑ Annual Report of the Election Department. 1954. pp. 107–108.
  10. ↑ "Recounts Asked By 3 Democrats in Primary Fights". The Boston Daily Globe. September 22, 1956.
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