John Chandler Gurney

John Chandler "Chan" Gurney (May 21, 1896 – March 9, 1985) was an American businessman and politician from South Dakota. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as a U.S. Senator from 1939 to 1951.

Chan Gurney
Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee
In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949
Preceded by	None (position created)
Succeeded by	Millard Tydings
Secretary of the Senate Republican Conference
In office September 30, 1945 – January 3, 1946
Leader	Wallace H. White Jr.
Preceded by	Harold Hitz Burton
Succeeded by	Milton Young
United States senator from South Dakota
In office January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1951
Preceded by	Gladys Pyle
Succeeded by	Francis H. Case
Personal details
Born	(1896-05-21)May 21, 1896 Yankton, South Dakota, U.S.
Died	March 9, 1985(1985-03-09) (aged 88) Yankton, South Dakota, U.S.
Resting place	Yankton Cemetery, Yankton, SD
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Evelyn Bordeno (m. 1917-1985, his death)
Children	3
Occupation	Businessman
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1917-1919
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	Company A, 34th Engineer Regiment
Battles/wars	World War I

Early life

Gurney was born in Yankton, South Dakota on May 21, 1896, a son of Deloss Butler Gurney and Henrietta (Klopping) Gurney.[1][2] He attended the public schools of Yankton and graduated from Yankton High School in 1915.[1] He became active in his father's business, Gurney's Seed and Nursery Company, of which was appointed secretary and treasurer.[1]

Military service

During World War I, Gurney volunteered for military service, though he was ineligible for the draft because he was married.[2] Assigned to the United States Army's Company A, 34th Engineer Regiment, he completed training at Camp Lewis, Washington.[2] He served in France in 1918 and 1919 and attained the rank of sergeant before being discharged for illness.[2]

Continued career

After returning to the United States, Gurney resumed working for the family seed business, where he remained until 1926.[1] A pioneer in commercial radio advertising, Gurney became the owner and operator of Yankton's (WNAX) in 1926.[2] In 1933, he moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he became active in the wholesale gasoline and oil business and was a developer of gasohol.[1]

Gurney was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.[2] He also belonged to the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.[2] In addition, Gurney was a member of the Masons and Elks.[2]

U.S. Senator

In 1936, Gurney ran unsuccessfully for election to the United States Senate as a Republican. In 1938, he was the successful Republican nominee.[1] He was reelected in 1944, and served from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1951.[1] He was chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services in the 80th Congress (1947-1949), the first chairman after the merger of the committees on Naval Affairs and Military Affairs.[2] Gurney was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1950, losing the Republican primary to Francis Case, who went on to win the general election.

Civil Aeronautics Board

In 1951, Gurney was appointed to the Civil Aeronautics Board.[1] He served as chairman from 1954 to 1957, and served on the board until 1964.[1]

Retirement and death

In retirement, Gurney retired to Yankton.[1] He died there on March 9, 1985.[1] Gurney was buried at Yankton Cemetery in Yankton.[1]

Legacy

Chan Gurney Municipal Airport in Yankton is named for Gurney.[3]

Family

In 1917, Gurney married Evelyn Bordeno (1897-1993) in Kansas City, Kansas.[1] They were the parents of three children - Ida, John, and Deloss.[1][2]

References

1. "Former Sen. Chan Gurney Dies In Yankton at 88". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. March 10, 1985. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
2. U.S. Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (April 1, 1953). Nomination of Chan Gurney to be a member of the Civil Aeronautics Board. Washington, DC: US Government printing Office. p. 1 – via Google Books.
3. "Chan Gurney Municipal Airport". Private Jet Hire Air Charter. New York, NY: Airnetz Aviation Pvt. Ltd. 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.

External links

• United States Congress. "John Chandler Gurney (id: G000532)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• John Chandler Gurney at Find a Grave

Additional reading

• Pressler, Larry. "John Chandler Gurney." In U.S. Senators from the Prairie, pp. 114–23. Vermillion, SD: Dakota Press, 1982. Via Google Books.

Party political offices
Preceded by William H. McMaster	Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from South Dakota (Class 2) 1936	Succeeded by Harlan J. Bushfield
Preceded by Gladys Pyle	Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from South Dakota (Class 3) 1938, 1944	Succeeded by Francis H. Case
Preceded by Harold Hitz Burton	Secretary of the Senate Republican Conference 1945–1946	Succeeded by Milton Young
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Gladys Pyle	U.S. Senator (Class 3) from South Dakota 1939–1951 Served alongside: William J. Bulow, Harlan J. Bushfield, Vera C. Bushfield, Karl E. Mundt	Succeeded by Francis H. Case
Preceded by None (position created)	Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee 1947–1949	Succeeded by Millard Tydings