Clifford Ross Powell

Clifford Ross Powell (July 26, 1893 – March 30, 1973) was an American Republican Party acting governor of New Jersey from January 3, 1935 to January 8, 1935.^[1]

Biography

He was born in Lumberton Township, New Jersey on July 26, 1893.^[1] He was educated at Mount Holly High School, studied law, and attained admission to the bar. Powell practiced in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey, and served as an Assistant County Prosecutor for Burlington County and the city or town attorney for several Burlington County municipalities.^[2]

Powell enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard, and advanced to the rank of Sergeant. He served in the United States Army during World War I, receiving a commission in the Aviation branch. During the war he was wounded, credited with shooting down two German planes, and received the Croix de Guerre twice.^[3] In 1941 he was promoted to Major General in the New Jersey National Guard as commander of the 44th Infantry Division.^[4][5] Powell was relieved of his division command after maneuvers in North and South Carolina, and continued to serve in New Jersey until he retired from the military in 1948.^[6][7][8][9]

In 1922 he was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly. He was Majority Leader in 1924, and served as Speaker in 1925.^[10][11][12]

He was a member of the New Jersey Senate from Burlington County, New Jersey from 1928 to 1939. He served as acting governor for the last five days of his tenure as President of the New Jersey Senate, after A. Harry Moore resigned to take a seat in the United States Senate.^[13] In his brief time as Acting Governor, he took the opportunity to abolish the New Jersey State Recovery Administration, the state-level counterpart of the National Recovery Administration, which had been establishing minimum prices and other "fair competition" codes.^[14] He ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 1937.^[15][16][17]

He died on March 30, 1973 in Burlington County Memorial Hospital.^[1]

References

1. "Gen. Clifford R. Powell, 80; Jersey Senator Led Guard". The New York Times. March 31, 1973. p. 38. Retrieved 2007-06-14. Maj. Gen. Clifford R. Powell, a retired commander of the New Jersey National Guard and a former State Senator and Assemblyman, died of a heart attack a Burlington County Memorial Hospital Wednesday. He was 80 years old and lived in Lumberton.
2. Josephine A. Fitzgerald, Publisher, Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, 1922, pages 310 to 311
3. Who's Who in American Aeronautics, Biography, Clifford Ross Powell, 1922, page 84
4. Christopher Richard Gabel, US Army GHQ Maneuvers of 1941, 1991, page 207
5. John J. Toffey IV, Jack Toffey's War: A Son's Memoir, 2008, pages 23 to 24
6. New York Times, Powell Retires From Guard Post, November 17, 1948
7. New York Times, Powell Takes Over Command of Fort Dix; Denies Rumors 44th Division Will Go South, October 26, 1940
8. New York Times, Driscoll, Powell Clash on Politics; Guard Chief in Jersey Resigns, March 9, 1948
9. New York Times, Reports Powell Relieved of Post; Washington Times-Herald Says He Has Been Succeeded by Muir in Command of 44th, October 8, 1941
10. James Roger Sharp, American Legislative Leaders in the Northeast, 1911-1994, 2000, page 178
11. New Jersey Legislature, Minutes of Votes and Proceedings, 1925, pages 7, 443, 1228
12. Thomas F. Fitzgerald, Fizgerald's Legislative Manual, 1971, page 201
13. Peterson, Iver (October 21, 2001). "On Politics: The State's Next Governor? It Isn't Who You Think It Is". The New York Times. p. 14NJ-2. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
14. Buritt, Richard D. (January 13, 1935). "Republican's Coup Ends Jersey Codes". The New York Times. p. E6.
15. New York Times, Powell to Oppose Dr. Glee in Jersey, July 16, 1937
16. New York Times, Jersey Republicans Open Primary Fight, August 19, 1937
17. Chicago Tribune, Jersey Pastor Victor in G.O.P. Governor Race, September 22, 1937