Glenn M. Anderson

Summary

Glenn Malcolm Anderson (February 21, 1913 – December 13, 1994) was an American politician. He was the 37th Lieutenant Governor of California and later represented Southern Los Angeles County (including Carson, San Pedro, and Long Beach) in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a member of the Democratic Party.[1]

Glenn M. Anderson
Anderson in 1975
Chair of House Transportation Committee
In office
March 25, 1988 – January 3, 1991
Preceded byJames J. Howard
Succeeded byRobert A. Roe
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California
In office
January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byCecil R. King
Succeeded bySteve Horn (Redistricting)
Constituency17th district (1969–73)
35th district (1973–75)
32nd district (1975–93)
37th Lieutenant Governor of California
In office
January 5, 1959 – January 2, 1967
GovernorPat Brown
Preceded byHarold J. Powers
Succeeded byRobert Finch
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 46th district
In office
January 4, 1943 – January 8, 1951
Preceded byJack Tenney
Succeeded byCharles Edward Chapel
Mayor of Hawthorne
In office
1940–1943
Personal details
Born(1913-02-21)February 21, 1913
Hawthorne, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 13, 1994(1994-12-13) (aged 81)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeGreen Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1943–1945
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life and education edit

Anderson was born on February 21, 1913, in Hawthorne, California. He received a Bachelor of Arts from University of California, Los Angeles in 1936. He worked as a real estate developer and served in the United States Army as an infantry sergeant during World War II.

Career edit

California Legislature edit

Anderson was mayor of Hawthorne from 1940 to 1943 and a member of the California State Assembly for the 46th district from 1943 to 1951. He served as Lieutenant Governor of California from 1959 to 1967, a tenure most notable for his actions relating to the 1965 Watts riots. With Governor Pat Brown vacationing in Greece when the riots broke out in August, 1965, Anderson served as acting governor. When Los Angeles officials urgently requested state support to quell the riots, Anderson waited five hours before granting approval. The subsequent controversy dogged Anderson for the remainder of his career and was a major factor in his 1966 defeat at the hands of Republican Robert Finch.[2]

U.S. House edit

Anderson was first elected to the 91st Congress in 1968 and served 12 terms from 1969 to 1993. As a former real estate developer, he successfully sought a seat on the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, of which he would become chair in 1988. His House colleagues claimed that Anderson's abilities slipped dramatically in the late 1980s because of his advancing age. State Democratic leaders went so far as to suggest reapportionment in 1991 that would carve up Anderson's harbor area district. He was removed as Committee Chairman after only 33 months.[2]

He decided not to run for re-election in 1992.

Personal life edit

Anderson underwent multiple heart bypass surgery in 1988.[2] He died on December 13, 1994, at San Pedro Peninsula Hospital Pavilion. The cause of death was complications of Alzheimer's disease.[1] He was 81.

He is interred in Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

The Los Angeles Harbor ship channel is named in his honor, and the Interstate 105 in South Los Angeles is named the "Glenn M. Anderson Freeway".

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Anderson, Glenn Malcolm". Who Was Who in America, 1993–1996, vol. 11. New Providence, N.J.: Marquis Who's Who. 1996. p. 6. ISBN 0837902258.
  2. ^ a b c "Former Lt. Gov., Congressman Glenn M. Anderson Dies at 81 : Politician: Longtime South Bay figure leaves legacy of public works projects. - Los Angeles Times".

External links edit

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 17th congressional district

January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1973
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 35th congressional district

January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 32nd congressional district

January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1993
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of California
January 5, 1959 – January 2, 1967
Succeeded by
Preceded by
James J. Howard
New Jersey
Chairman of House Transportation Committee
January 3, 1988 – January 3, 1991
Succeeded by
Robert A. Roe
New Jersey