James Graves Scrugham

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James Graves Scrugham

James Graves Scrugham (born January 19, 1880 in Lexington , Kentucky , † June 23, 1945 in San Diego , California ) was an American politician and governor of Nevada from 1923 to 1927 . Between 1933 and 1945 he represented his state in both chambers of the US Congress .

Early years and political advancement

James Scrugham studied engineering at the University of Kentucky at Lexington. He then worked at a number of companies in Cincinnati , Chicago and San Francisco before moving to Nevada. In 1903, Scrugham became an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno . In 1904 he returned for a short time to Kentucky, where he married Julia McCann, with whom he would later have two children. In 1905 he was promoted to professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Nevada, and another year later Scrugham was appointed professor in his field. In 1912 he also became a professor of electrical engineering. Between 1914 and 1917 he was Dean of this faculty.

Scrugham became a member of the Democratic Party . During the First World War he was a soldier in the US Army for one year . Then he made it as a reserve officer in the army to lieutenant colonel. From 1917 to 1923, Scrugham was a state engineer . His time in this office was interrupted by the aforementioned military service. His main work as a state engineer was the preparations for the construction of a dam on the Colorado River . To do this, he had to negotiate with the neighboring states and the federal government. Construction was delayed because Arizona rejected the plan. Named after President Herbert C. Hoover , Hoover Dam was completed between 1931 and 1935.

Governor of Nevada

In November 1922, Scrugham was elected the new governor of his state. During his four-year term of office, which began on January 1, 1923, a pension law was passed and national parks were planned. The first airport was opened in Las Vegas . In addition, Scrugham continued to fight as governor for the construction of the aforementioned dam. He also had the state's roads expanded to cope with the increased volume of traffic. In 1926 the governor ran unsuccessfully for re-election. Therefore, he had to give up his office on January 3, 1927.

Scrugham in Congress

After his governorship, Scrugham went to the Nevada State Journal , where he worked as an editor and publisher until 1927. He then became Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior on Colorado River projects. It was mainly about the construction of the Hoover Dam. Between March 4, 1933 and December 7, 1942, Scrugham represented his state in the US House of Representatives . That day he resigned to succeed the late Senator Key Pittman in the US Senate . That mandate had meanwhile been exercised by Berkeley L. Bunker until the election of Scrugham. The term of office in the Senate would have run until January 3, 1947. However, Senator Scrugham died on June 23, 1945 in the San Diego Naval Hospital. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery , Reno . Edward P. Carville took his seat in the Senate .

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 3, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Scrugham, James Graves
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH January 19, 1880
PLACE OF BIRTH Lexington , Kentucky
DATE OF DEATH June 23, 1945
Place of death San Diego , California