Rufus C. Holman
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| Rufus Cecil Holman | |
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| In office January 3, 1939-January 3, 1945 |
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| Preceded by | Alexander G. Barry |
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| Succeeded by | Wayne Morse |
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| Born | October 14, 1877 Portland, Oregon |
| Died | November 27, 1959 (aged 82) Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | businessman |
Rufus Cecil Holman (1877-1959) was a Republican United States Senator and state treasurer from Oregon in the 20th century. A native of Oregon, he served a single term in the Senate during World War II.
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[edit] Early life
Rufus Holman was born Portland, Oregon, on October 14, 1877.[1] There he received his education in the public schools and became a teacher in 1896. After leaving teaching in 1898, he worked in various fields from farming and operating a steamboat, to pursuits related to the accounting field until 1910. That year Holman began making record keeping books and paper boxes in Portland.[1] He then worked in the cold storage business and and was active in civic affairs.
[edit] Politics
Holman won his first election to political office in 1918, when he was elected to the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, where he served one four-year term. In 1931, Oregon Governor Julius L. Meier appointed him as State Treasurer after Thomas B. Kay died in office.[2] Holman began in office on May 1, 1931, winning election to a full four-year term in 1932, and winning re-election in 1936.[2] He resigned from the office in 1938, leaving on December 27, 1938.[2]
Although a strong conservative on most issues, he was concerned about the environment long before it was a publicized issue. In 1937, he won publicity when he demonstrated the polluted state of the Willamette River by briefly holding a cage of salmon in the water, then quickly pulling them out dying to a shocked audience.[3] In 1938, he was elected to the United States Senate. As Senator, he was critical of the foreign policy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, although he supported World War II, and was identified as an isolationist. He also denounced organized labor and supported the detainment of Japanese citizens. He was defeated in the Republican primary in 1944 by Wayne L. Morse, who was a progressive and internationalist.
[edit] Later life
After his defeat, he returned to private life and never sought public office again. Holman returned to managing the Portland Paper Box Company in Portland, and returned to his farm near Molalla, Oregon.[1] Rufus Cecil Holman died on November 27, 1959, in his home town of Portland. He was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Rufus C. Holman. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on November 11, 2007.
- ^ a b c Treasurers of Oregon. Oregon Blue Book. Retrieved on November 11, 2007.
- ^ Appell, David A long row to recovery. The Portland Tribune, July 18, 2006.
- ^ Political Graveyard: River View Cemetery
| Preceded by Alexander G. Barry |
U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Oregon 1939-1945 |
Succeeded by Wayne L. Morse |
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