John Francis Neylan | |
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| Born | (1885-11-06)November 6, 1885 New York, New York |
| Died | August 19, 1960(1960-08-19) (aged 74) San Francisco, California |
| Education | Seton Hall College |
| Occupations | Lawyer, journalist, politician |
| Political party | Progressive |
John Francis Neylan (November 6, 1885 - August 19, 1960) was an Americanlawyer,journalist, political and educational figure.
Neylan was born inNew York City. After graduation fromSeton Hall College in New Jersey in 1903, he went West. California was his destination, but he stopped off in Arizona and worked there for several years as ateamster, bank teller andreporter. The desire for a newspaper career took him to San Francisco and, eventually, a job with theBulletin. One of his first assignments was to coverHiram Johnson's first gubernatorial campaign.
Johnson was impressed with the young reporter. After being elected, Johnson appointed the 26-year-old Neylan as Chairman of the State Board of Control, newly established by the legislature in 1911 to oversee agency expenses. The Board installed an accounting system and drew up the state's first budget. It was so successful in regulating the state's finances that it converted the $2,000,000 deficit taken on when Johnson entered office, into an $8,000,000 surplus at the end of six years.[citation needed]
Neylan also studied law while working in Sacramento, and he passed the bar examination in 1916. After Johnson was appointed by the state legislature as US Senator from California, Neylan moved to San Francisco to practice law. He became one of the best known and important lawyers in the state. His talents attracted the attention ofWilliam Randolph Hearst. In 1919 Neylan negotiated Hearst's purchase of theCall newspaper and became its publisher. By 1925 the lawyer was Hearst's trusted advisor and became general counsel for all his enterprises. Although their professional relationship ended in 1937, the two remained good friends.
In 1928 GovernorClement C. Young appointed Neylan to the Board of Regents of theUniversity of California, where he served for 27 years. Neylan was an influential member of the Board's Finance Committee and was in great measure responsible for the University's role in the development of atomic research. Neylan andRobert Gordon Sproul were members of theBohemian Club, and Sproul sponsoredErnest Lawrence's membership in 1932. Through the club, Lawrence metWilliam H. Crocker andEdwin Pauley; influential men who helped him get money for his energy investigations. Neylan believed strongly in Lawrence's vision.[1]
In 1949-1950 Neylan was a central figure in the bitter controversy over theloyalty oath, which the state demanded of people involved with the university system, during the period of fears of Communist influence in academia. He resigned his position as regent in October 1955.
Shortly thereafter he went into semi-retirement. He removed his law practice from San Francisco toPalo Alto, to be nearer to his ranch, Corte Madera. He planned to write his memoirs, but died in San Francisco on August 19, 1960.[2]
Neylan received an honorary degree in Doctor of Law fromOglethorpe University in 1936. He appeared on the cover ofTime on April 29, 1935. An extensive collection of his professional and personal papers are on file at the Bancroft Library at theUniversity of California, Berkeley.
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