Don G. Abel | |
|---|---|
| Justice of theWashington Supreme Court | |
| In office 1946 (1946) – 1947 (1947) | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Donald George Abel (1894-12-23)December 23, 1894 Lincoln Center, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | July 8, 1980(1980-07-08) (aged 85) Mercer Island, Washington, U.S. |
| Spouse | Marion Ross |
| Education | University of Washington School of Law (LLB) |
| Occupation |
|
Donald George Abel (December 23, 1894 – July 8, 1980) was an American attorney who served as aWashington State Supreme Court Justice from 1946 to 1947.[1]
His father, George D. Abel, was a Superior Court Judge ofGrays Harbor County, the center of the state's logging industry. In 1913, Don graduated fromHoquiam High School. He attended theUniversity of Washington, where he played football under coachGil Dobie, and received aB.A. degree in 1917.
DuringWorld War I, Abel served in the91st Division of theU.S. Army, was decorated for gallantry in theBattle of the Argonne, and rose to the rank of captain.[2][3]
Following his discharge, he returned to theUniversity of Washington School of Law, and graduated with aLL.B. degree in 1919.
After graduation, Abel engaged in the private practice of law in Chehalis, and then held a series of government posts. From 1922 to 1926, he served as the Prosecuting Attorney ofLewis County. In 1932, he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination to Congress in theThird District. From May 1936 to February 1940, Abel was state administrator of the federalWorks Progress Administration.[4][5][6][7]
In September 1942, he ran unsuccessfully for a position on the state Supreme Court, losing toJohn Robinson.[8] In 1946, Abel was appointed to Supreme Court as acting Justice during the absence ofWalter B. Beals, who was Presiding Judge at theInternational Military Tribunal I in Nuremberg, Germany.
In 1957, GovernorAlbert Rosellini appointed Abel to the State Public Service Commission, and later to theWashington State Liquor Cannabis Board, where he served as member and chairman.[9]
He was married to Marion E. Ross. They had three children, including a daughter, Janice Abel Colby, and twins born on January 20, 1920: Margaret Louise Abel and Donald G. Abel Jr.[10] Donald Jr., graduated from the University of Washington Law School, as did his father, served as Grays Harbor Prosecuting Attorney, and practiced law in Seattle.[11]
Abel, Sr. died July 8, 1980.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Walter B. Beals | Associate Justice of theWashington Supreme Court 1946-1947 | Succeeded by |