William F. Quinn

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Categories: Governors of Hawaii | Hawaii Republicans

William F. Quinn, a member of the Republican Party, was the Governor of the Territory of Hawaii from 1957 to 1959 and Governor of the State of Hawaii from 1959 to 1962. Originally appointed to the office by President of the United States Dwight Eisenhower in 1957, Quinn won election to the governorship in 1959, the year of Hawaii's statehood. Quinn was the last executive of an era of Republican rule over the Hawaiian Islands which began during the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893.

Quinn was born in Rochester, New York on July 31, 1919. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and served in the United States Navy during World War II. Upon his discharge from service, he settled permanently in Honolulu, Hawai'i.

Quinn involved himself in territorial politics and was elected to the territorial senate in 1956. It is from the legislature that he was appointed to the governorship by the White House. Quinn worked closely with Congressional Delegate John A. Burns in obtaining statehood for Hawai'i. They succeeded and Quinn won an election to become the first state governor. Quinn lost the governorship in the 1962 elections to John A. Burns, Hawaii's first Democratic Governor.

No Ordinary Man, a biography of Quinn written by Mary C. Kahulumana Richards, is according to A.A. Smyser, longtime editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "balanced in telling the good and the bad, often through the eyes of the local newspapers. It leans heavily on Quinn himself for source material but is more critical than an autobiography might be." [1]

In a commpanion editorial by A. A. Smyser, "By the time Quinn and his wife Nancy, good Catholics, moved into Washington Place, the official residence, they had five children. They left with seven, which may be a record for those gracious, dignified surroundings that were occupied after her dethronement by Queen Liliuokalani. He went on to head Dole Pineapple, then a career in law. Quinn used speaking invitations, which came by the dozens, to learn more about Hawaii. He would brush up on the organizations that invited him and their histories, then deliver surprisingly meaty talks. He also was the only governor to do weekly TV shows. He still can be persuaded to sing at almost any occasion." [2]

External Links

• Smyser, A.A. A biography of ex-Gov. William Quinn Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 31, 1998.
• Smyser, A.A. Ex-Gov. Quinn’s worst political mistake Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 2, 1998.
• William F. Quinn was key to modern state Honolulu Advertiser, August 30, 2006.
• Shapiro, Treena. 1919-2006: 'He lived a very full life' Honolulu Advertiser, August 30, 2006.
• William Quinn photo gallery (flash player required) Honolulu Advertiser, August 30, 2006.
• Burris, Jerry. A different Republican than Islanders were used to Honolulu Advertiser, August 30, 2006.
• Borreca, Richard. Statehood was Quinn's key achievement -- William F. Quinn, 1919-2006 Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 30, 2006.
• Borreca, Richard. William F. Quinn, 1919-2006, political pioneer -- Many respected Hawaii's first elected governor
• Gordon, Mike. 300 say aloha to Governor Quinn Honolulu Advertiser, September 2, 2006.

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