Politicians Who Died of Lung Cancer

[RandyW]

Politicians Who Died of Lung Cancer

Very incomplete list!

in chronological order

Lee Edward Geyer (1888-1941) — also known as Lee E. Geyer — of Gardena, Los Angeles County, Calif. Born in Wetmore, Nemaha County, Kan., September 9, 1888. Democrat. Member of California state assembly, 1935-37; U.S. Representative from California 17th District, 1939-41; died in office 1941; delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1940. Died of lung cancer, at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C., October 11, 1941. Interment at Wetmore Cemetery, Wetmore, Kan.

See also: congressional biography.

Addison Taylor Smith (1862-1956) — also known as Addison T. Smith — of Twin Falls, Twin Falls County, Idaho. Born near Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio, September 5, 1862. Republican. U.S. Representative from Idaho, 1913-33 (at-large 1913-17, 2nd District 1917-33). Died of lung cancer, in Washington, D.C., July 5, 1956. Interment at Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

See also: congressional biography.

Everett McKinley Dirksen (1896-1969) — also known as Everett M. Dirksen; "The Wizard of Ooze" — of Pekin, Tazewell County, Ill. Born in Pekin, Tazewell County, Ill., January 4, 1896. Father-in-law of Howard Henry Baker, Jr.. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; U.S. Representative from Illinois 16th District, 1933-49; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1940 (alternate), 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960; U.S. Senator from Illinois, 1951-69; died in office 1969. Christian Reformed. Member, American Bar Association; Izaak Walton League; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Freemasons; Shriners; Order of the Eastern Star; Eagles; Elks; Moose; Odd Fellows. Died, of lung cancer, at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., September 7, 1969. Interment at Glendale Memorial Gardens, Pekin, Ill.

See also: congressional biography; Internet Movie Database profile.

Books about Everett Dirksen: Byron C. Hulsey, Everett Dirksen and His Presidents: How a Senate Giant Shaped American Politics

Winthrop Rockefeller (1912-1973) — of Morrilton, Conway County, Ark. Born in New York, New York County, N.Y., May 1, 1912. Grandson of Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich; nephew of Richard Steere Aldrich; brother of Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller; uncle of John Davison Rockefeller IV; father of Winthrop Paul Rockefeller. Republican. Colonel in the U.S. Army during World War II; member of Republican National Committee from Arkansas, 1961; delegate to Republican National Convention from Arkansas, 1964; Governor of Arkansas, 1967-71. Baptist. Member, Urban League; Delta Kappa Epsilon; Kappa Delta Pi. Died of lung cancer, February 22, 1973. Cremated; ashes scattered.

Books about Winthrop Rockefeller: John L. Ward, Winthrop Rockefeller, Philanthropist: A Life of Change

Homer Alvin Hetherington (1923-1982) — of Winfield, Cowley County, Kan. Born in Roderfield, McDowell County, W.Va., December 26, 1923. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; mayor of Winfield, Kan., 1971, 1974. Died, of lung cancer, in Winfield, Cowley County, Kan., March 5, 1982. Interment at Highland Cemetery, Winfield, Kan.

Mark Warren Hannaford (1925-1985) — of Lakewood, Los Angeles County, Calif. Born in Woodrow, Lincoln County, Colo., February 7, 1925. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; mayor of Lakewood, Calif., 1968-70, 1972-74; U.S. Representative from California 34th District, 1975-79; defeated, 1978, 1980. Died of mesothelioma (lung cancer) in a hospital at Lakewood, Los Angeles County, Calif., June 2, 1985. Cremated; ashes scattered.

See also: congressional biography.

Ruth Meiers (1925-1987) — of Ross, Mountrail County, N.Dak. Born in 1925. Democrat. Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota, 1985-87; died in office 1987. Female. Died, of lung and brain cancer, March 1987. Interment at Rosehill Cemetery, Near Ross, Mountrail County, N.Dak.

Archie M. Gubbrud (1910-1987) — of South Dakota. Born December 31, 1910. Republican. Governor of South Dakota, 1961-65; candidate for U.S. Senator from South Dakota, 1968. Died, from complications of lung cancer, in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, S.Dak., April 26, 1987. Burial location unknown.

Thomas Henry Kuchel (1910-1994) — also known as Thomas H. Kuchel — of Anaheim, Orange County, Calif. Born in Anaheim, Orange County, Calif., August 15, 1910. Republican. Member of California state assembly, 1936; member of California state senate, 1940; California Republican state chair, 1940-41; served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1952 (alternate), 1956, 1960; U.S. Senator from California, 1953-69; defeated in primary, 1968. Episcopalian. Member, American Legion; Freemasons; Elks; Phi Kappa Psi. Died of lung cancer in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, Calif., November 21, 1994. Interment at Anaheim Cemetery, Anaheim, Calif.

Cross-reference: Stephen Horn

See also: congressional biography.

Glen Crosbie (c.1910-1995) — of La Mesa, San Diego County, Calif. Born in Irwin, Union County, Ohio. Veterinarian; mayor of La Mesa, Calif., 1956-58. Died, of lung cancer, in La Mesa, San Diego County, Calif., March 28, 1995. Burial location unknown.

John D. Gray (c.1928-1995) — of Virginia. Member of Virginia state house of delegates, 1965-82; circuit judge in Virginia, 1983-95. Died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the day after being told his lung cancer was terminal, Hampton, Va., December 10, 1995. Burial location unknown.

Norvell William Emerson (1938-1996) — also known as Bill Emerson — of De Soto, Jefferson County, Mo.; Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Mo. Born in St. Louis, Mo., January 1, 1938. Son of Norvell Preston Emerson and Marie (Reinemer) Emerson; married, June 21, 1975, to Jo Ann Hermann. Republican. U.S. Representative from Missouri, 1981-96 (10th District 1981-83, 8th District 1983-96); died in office 1996. Presbyterian. Died of lung cancer, at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Montgomery County, Md., June 22, 1996. Interment at Hillsboro Cemetery, Hillsboro, Mo.

See also: congressional biography.

Charles Arthur Hayes (1918-1997) — also known as Charles A. Hayes — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Cairo, Alexander County, Ill., February 17, 1918. Democrat. U.S. Representative from Illinois 1st District, 1983-93; defeated, 1992. Black. Died, from complications of lung cancer, at South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest, Cook County, Ill., April 8, 1997. Burial location unknown.

See also: congressional biography.

Mary Louise Smith (1914-1997) — of Iowa. Born in Eddyville, Wapello County, Iowa, October 6, 1914. Republican. Member of Republican National Committee from Iowa, 1964-84; Chairman of Republican National Committee, 1974-77; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1964. Female. Protestant. Died of lung cancer, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, August 22, 1997. Cremated.

John Esposito (c.1928-1997) — of New York. Born in Brooklyn, Kings County, N.Y. Conservative. Lawyer; member of New York state assembly, 1971-82; defeated, 1982; candidate for mayor of New York City, N.Y., 1981. Died of lung cancer, in Garden City, Nassau County, Long Island, N.Y., September 7, 1997. Burial location unknown.

Philip Runkel (c.1928-1998) — of Michigan. Michigan superintendent of public instruction, 1980-87. Died, following surgery for lung cancer, at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Olmsted County, Minn., 1998. Burial location unknown.

Robert Donald Wheeler, Sr. (1923-1999) — of North Carolina. Born June 6, 1923. District judge in North Carolina, 1968-86. Died, of lung cancer, in Pitt County, N.C., January 9, 1999. Interment at St. John's Episcopal Church, Grifton, N.C.

Biagio DiLieto (1922-1999) — also known as Ben DiLieto — of New Haven, New Haven County, Conn. Born in 1922. Mayor of New Haven, Conn., 1980-89. Died of lung and bladder cancer, at Connecticut Hospice, Branford, New Haven County, Conn., November 8, 1999. Interment at St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, Conn.

Eugene A. Leahy (1929-2000) — also known as Gene Leahy — of Omaha, Douglas County, Neb. Born in Imogene, Fremont County, Iowa, May 8, 1929. Served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict; lawyer; municipal judge in Nebraska, 1964-68; mayor of Omaha, Neb., 1969-73. Catholic. Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Died, from complications of lung cancer, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Omaha, Douglas County, Neb., January 18, 2000. Interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Neb.

Richard Gordon Kleindienst (1923-2000) — also known as Richard G. Kleindienst — of Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Born in Winslow, Navajo County, Ariz., August 5, 1923. Son of Alfred Kleindienst (postmaster, Winslow, Ariz.). Republican. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; lawyer; member of Arizona state house of representatives, 1953-54; Arizona Republican state chair, 1956-60, 1962-63; member of Republican National Committee from Arizona, 1956-60, 1962-63; delegate to Republican National Convention from Arizona, 1960, 1964; candidate for Governor of Arizona, 1964; U.S. Attorney General, 1972-73. Episcopalian. Member, American Bar Association; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Elks. Pleaded guilty in 1974 to failing to testify fully in Senate investigation of favoritism toward ITT Corporation; the sentence was suspended. Tried and found not guilty of perjury in 1981, but his license to practice law was suspended for a year. Died, of lung cancer, in Prescott, Yavapai County, Ariz., February 3, 2000. Interment somewhere in Phoenix, Ariz.

Books by Richard Kleindienst: Justice: The Memoirs of Attorney General Richard Kleindienst (1985, out of print)

Kenneth Leon Maddy (1934-2000) — also known as Kenneth L. Maddy; Ken Maddy — of California. Born in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, Calif., May 22, 1934. Republican. Lawyer; member of California state assembly, 1971-78; candidate in primary for Governor of California, 1978; member of California state senate, 1979-98. Member, Rotary. Died, of lung cancer, at Sutter Memorial Hospital, Sacramento, Sacramento County, Calif., February 19, 2000. Burial location unknown.

Thomas Franklin Butt (1917-2000) — of Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark. Born in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Ark., March 26, 1917. Son of Festus Orestes Butt. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Army during World War II; district judge in Arkansas, 1950-2000; candidate for justice of Arkansas state supreme court, 1968; delegate to Arkansas state constitutional convention, 1979. Had the longest tenure on the bench of any judge in Arkansas history. Died, of lung cancer, in Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark., May 20, 2000. Interment at Fairview Memorial Gardens, Fayetteville, Ark.

Diane Divers Blair (1938-2000) — also known as Diane Blair — of Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark. Born in Washington, D.C., October 25, 1938. Democrat. University professor; Presidential Elector for Arkansas, 1992. Female. Member, Phi Beta Kappa. Died of lung cancer, at Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark., June 26, 2000. Interment at Fairview Memorial Gardens, Fayetteville, Ark.

Griffin Smith (1915-2000) — of Arkansas. Born in Paragould, Greene County, Ark., October 24, 1915. Son of Griffin Smith (1885?-?). Lawyer; justice of Arkansas state supreme court, 1951; defeated, 1958. Member, American Bar Association. Died, of lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis, in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Ark., July 11, 2000. Burial location unknown.

Janice Hardenburger (c.1932-2000) — of Haddam, Washington County, Kan. Republican. Member of Kansas state senate 23rd District, 1993-2000; died in office 2000. Female. Died, of lung cancer, at Jefferson Community Health Center, Fairbury, Jefferson County, Neb., August 31, 2000. Burial location unknown.

Herbert Harvell Bateman (1928-2000) — also known as Herbert H. Bateman — of Newport News, Va. Born in Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, N.C., August 7, 1928. Served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict; lawyer; member of Virginia state senate, 1968-83; candidate in Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 1981; U.S. Representative from Virginia 1st District, 1983-2000; elected unopposed 1996; died in office 2000. Member, American Judicature Society; American Legion; Jaycees; Omicron Delta Kappa; Phi Delta Phi; Pi Kappa Alpha. Died, of lung cancer and prostate cancer, at Loudoun Hospital Center, Leesburg, Loudoun County, Va., September 11, 2000. Interment at Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News, Va.

See also: congressional biography.

Robert Frederick Bennett (1927-2000) — also known as Robert F. Bennett; Bob Bennett — of Prairie Village, Johnson County, Kan.; Overland Park, Johnson County, Kan. Born in Kansas City, Jackson County, Mo., May 23, 1927. Republican. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II; served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean conflict; lawyer; mayor of Prairie Village, Kan., 1957-65; member of Kansas state senate, 1965-75; Governor of Kansas, 1975-79; defeated, 1978. Protestant. Member, American Bar Association; American Judicature Society; Freemasons; Optimist Club. Died, of lung cancer, at St. Joseph's Health Center, Kansas City, Jackson County, Mo., October 9, 2000. Burial location unknown.

Bruce Frank Vento (1940-2000) — also known as Bruce F. Vento — of St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minn. Born in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minn., October 7, 1940. Member of Minnesota state house of representatives, 1971-76; U.S. Representative from Minnesota 4th District, 1977-2000; died in office 2000; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1984, 2000. Catholic. German and Italian ancestry. An elementary school in St. Paul, Minn., is named for him. Died, of mesothelioma (lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos), St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minn., October 10, 2000. Interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Maplewood, Minn.

See also: congressional biography.

Patricia Scott (1938-2001) — also known as Pat Scott — of Everett, Snohomish County, Wash. Born in Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn., July 5, 1938. Democrat. Member of Washington state house of representatives, 1984-2001; appointed 1984; died in office 2001. Female. Methodist. Died of lung cancer, in Everett, Snohomish County, Wash., January 7, 2001. Burial location unknown.

Norman Sisisky (1927-2001) — of Petersburg, Va. Born in Baltimore, Md., June 9, 1927. Democrat. Business executive; member of Virginia state house of delegates, 1974-82; U.S. Representative from Virginia 4th District, 1983-2001; died in office 2001; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 2000. Jewish. Died, of lung cancer, in Richmond, Va., March 29, 2001. Interment at Beth-El Cemetery, Henrico County, Va.

See also: congressional biography.

John Ainley (c.1940-2001) — of Park Rapids, Hubbard County, Minn. Republican. Member of Minnesota state house of representatives, 1979-83. Died, of heart problems and complications of surgery to remove a lung tumor, in United Hospital, St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minn., May 1, 2001. Burial location unknown.

Jean Louise Harris (c.1931-2001) — of Richmond, Va.; Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minn. Born in Virginia. Republican. Physician; mayor of Eden Prairie, Minn., 1995-2001; died in office 2001; candidate in primary for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, 2000. Female. Black. Episcopalian or Lutheran. Died, of lung cancer, in a hospital at Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minn., December 14, 2001. Interment at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Eden Prairie, Minn.

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