Phil Donnelly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 41st and 43rdGovernor of Missouri | |
| In office January 8, 1945 – January 10, 1949 | |
| Lieutenant | Walter Naylor Davis |
| Preceded by | Forrest C. Donnell |
| Succeeded by | Forrest Smith |
| In office January 12, 1953 – January 14, 1957 | |
| Lieutenant | James T. Blair, Jr. |
| Preceded by | Forrest Smith |
| Succeeded by | James T. Blair, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1891-03-06)March 6, 1891 |
| Died | September 12, 1961(1961-09-12) (aged 70) Lebanon, Missouri, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Juanita McFadden |
| Alma mater | St. Louis University |
| Profession | Attorney Politician |
Philip Matthew Donnelly (March 6, 1891 – September 12, 1961) was an American politician who served as the41st and 43rd Governor of Missouri. He was a member of theDemocratic Party. Donnelly andKit Bond are the only Missouri governors to serve two non-consecutive terms.
Donnelly was born inLebanon, Missouri, in 1891, the son of Phil and Margaret (Halloran) Donnelly.[1] Following his graduation from Lebanon High School in 1909, Donnelly attendedSaint Louis University, earning a law degree in 1913.[2] Donnelly returned to Lebanon and entered private practice with J.W. Farris. In 1915, he married Miss Juanita McFadden. They had one son, David, who himself later became an attorney and joined his father's law practice.[3]
Soon after his passing of the Missouri Bar and return to Lebanon, Donnelly expressed an interest in politics. His first office was that of Lebanon's city attorney, followed by election to one term asLaclede County prosecutor.[2] Donnelly entered state politics in 1922 by being elected state representative for the Laclede County area. After one term in theMissouri House of Representatives, he was elected to theMissouri State Senate in 1924 and remained there for the next twenty years.[3]
Donnelly ran for governor of Missouri in1944, narrowly defeating Republican nominee Jean Paul Bradshaw by a margin of 51%–49%. During his first term as governor, Donnelly oversaw the implementation of a newMissouri state constitution in 1946 and the creation of theMissouri Department of Revenue, and he welcomed British statesmanWinston Churchill toFulton, Missouri, where Churchill delivered his famousIron Curtain speech atWestminster College.
At the time, Missouri's constitution prohibited a governor from serving two consecutive terms, so Donnelly was ineligible to run again in 1948. However, he ran for governor again in1952 against former Speaker of the Missouri House of RepresentativesHoward Elliott, defeating him by a margin of 53%–47%. Donnelly thus became the first governor of Missouri to serve two full terms.
Following his second term, Donnelly semi-retired to his law practice in Lebanon with his son. Donnelly died on September 12, 1961, and is buried in the city cemetery in Lebanon.[2]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Larry McDaniel | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Missouri 1944 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Missouri 1952 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Missouri 1945–1949 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Forrest Smith | Governor of Missouri 1953–1957 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
