John Chandler Gurney
Chan Gurney | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | None (position created) |
| Succeeded by | Millard Tydings |
| Secretary of the Senate Republican Conference | |
| In office September 30, 1945 – January 3, 1946 | |
| Leader | Wallace H. White Jr. |
| Preceded by | Harold Hitz Burton |
| Succeeded by | Milton Young |
| United States Senator from South Dakota | |
| In office January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1951 | |
| Preceded by | Gladys Pyle |
| Succeeded by | Francis H. Case |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 21, 1896 Yankton, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | March 9, 1985 (aged 88) Yankton, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Resting place | Yankton Cemetery, Yankton, SD |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Evelyn Bordeno (m. 1917-1985, his death) |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917-1919 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | Company A, 34th Engineer Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
John Chandler "Chan" Gurney (May 21, 1896 – March 9, 1985) was an American businessman and politician from South Dakota. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as a U.S. Senator from 1939 to 1951.
Early life[]
Gurney was born in Yankton, South Dakota on May 21, 1896, a son of Deloss Butler Gurney and Henrietta (Klopping) Gurney.[1][2] He attended the public schools of Yankton and graduated from Yankton High School in 1915.[1] He became active in his father's business, Gurney's Seed and Nursery Company, of which was appointed secretary and treasurer.[1]
Military service[]
During World War I, Gurney volunteered for military service, though he was ineligible for the draft because he was married.[2] Assigned to the United States Army's Company A, 34th Engineer Regiment, he completed training at Camp Lewis, Washington.[2] He served in France in 1918 and 1919 and attained the rank of sergeant before being discharged for illness.[2]
Continued career[]
After returning to the United States, Gurney resumed working for the family seed business, where he remained until 1926.[1] A pioneer in commercial radio advertising, Gurney became the owner and operator of Yankton's (WNAX) in 1926.[2] In 1933, he moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he became active in the wholesale gasoline and oil business and was a developer of gasohol.[1]
Gurney was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.[2] He also belonged to the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.[2] In addition, Gurney was a member of the Masons and Elks.[2]
U.S. Senator[]
In 1936, Gurney ran unsuccessfully for election to the United States Senate as a Republican, losing narrowly to incumbent Senator William J. Bulow. In 1938, he was the successful Republican nominee.[1] He was reelected in 1944, and served from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1951.[1] He was chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services in the 80th Congress (1947-1949), the first chairman after the merger of the committees on Naval Affairs and Military Affairs.[2] Gurney was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1950, losing the Republican primary to Francis Case, who went on to win the general election.
Civil Aeronautics Board[]
In 1951, Gurney was appointed to the Civil Aeronautics Board.[1] He served as chairman from 1954 to 1957, and served on the board until 1964.[1]
Retirement and death[]
In retirement, Gurney retired to Yankton.[1] He died there on March 9, 1985.[1] Gurney was buried at Yankton Cemetery in Yankton.[1]
Legacy[]
Chan Gurney Municipal Airport in Yankton is named for Gurney.[3]
Family[]
In 1917, Gurney married Evelyn Bordeno (1897-1993) in Kansas City, Kansas.[1] They were the parents of three children - Ida, John, and Deloss.[1][2]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Former Sen. Chan Gurney Dies In Yankton at 88". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. March 10, 1985. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j U.S. Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (April 1, 1953). Nomination of Chan Gurney to be a member of the Civil Aeronautics Board. Washington, DC: US Government printing Office. p. 1 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Chan Gurney Municipal Airport". Private Jet Hire Air Charter. New York, NY: Airnetz Aviation Pvt. Ltd. 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
External links[]
- United States Congress. "John Chandler Gurney (id: G000532)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- John Chandler Gurney at Find a Grave
Additional reading[]
- Pressler, Larry. "John Chandler Gurney." In U.S. Senators from the Prairie, pp. 114–23. Vermillion, SD: Dakota Press, 1982. Via Google Books.
| show Chairmen of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services |
|---|
| show Authority control  |
|---|
- 1896 births
- 1985 deaths
- 20th-century American politicians
- United States Army personnel of World War I
- Businesspeople from South Dakota
- People from Yankton, South Dakota
- Politicians from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Military personnel from South Dakota
- Republican Party United States senators
- South Dakota Republicans
- United States senators from South Dakota
- 20th-century American businesspeople