William M. Lennox

William Mercer Lennox (August 8, 1900 – October 7, 1991) was a Democratic politician from Philadelphia who served as sheriff from 1952 to 1972.

Formative years and family

Born in Philadelphia on August 8, 1900, William M. Lennox was a son of Robert Lennox and his wife, Theresa Howarth Lennox.[1] At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the First World War.[2]

After the war, he worked as the business manager of athletics at the University of Pennsylvania.[3] In 1928, Lennox married Kathryn Kilgallen, with whom he had five children, Nancy, William, Jane, Mary Ellen and Benedict.[2]

Career

In 1950, Democratic ward leaders nominated Lennox for the Philadelphia City Council during a special election that followed the death of Charles E. O'Halloran.[2] He won and served the remained of the term, which ended in 1952.[3] In 1951, instead of running for another term on the council, Lennox ran for sheriff and won.[3] He was reelected in 1955, 1959, 1963, and 1967.[3]

After his fifth term, Lennox retired from office at the age of seventy-one, but remained active in the community, working as a volunteer at St. John's Hospice in Center City.[3]

Death

Lennox died on October 7, 1991.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ PHMC 1934.
  2. 1 2 3 Inquirer 1950.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Roche 1991.

Sources

  • "Pennsylvania, WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948". Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. March 19, 1934. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  • "Lennox Will Run For Council Post". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 3, 1950. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Roche, Walter F. (October 8, 1991). "William M. Lennox, 91, sheriff from 1952-72, later hospice volunteer". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 7-B – via Newspapers.com.
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