Clarence Eugene Hancock (February 13, 1885 – January 3, 1948) was an American attorney and politician from New York. He was most notable for his service as a U.S. Representative from 1927 to 1947.
A native of Syracuse, New York, Hancock graduated from Wesleyan University (1906) and New York Law School (1908), then practiced law in Syracuse. A veteran of the Pancho Villa Expedition and World War I, Hancock went on to serve as Syracuse's corporation counsel from 1926 to 1927. A Republican, in 1927 Hancock won a special election for the U.S. House. He was reelected every two years from 1928 to 1944, and served from November 8, 1927, to January 3, 1947.
As a member of the New York National Guard's 1st Cavalry Regiment, Hancock attained the rank of sergeant and served on the Mexican border during the 1916 Pancho Villa Expedition.[4] During World War I, he served in France with the 104th Machine Gun Battalion, a unit of the 27th Division, and attained the rank of captain as commander of the battalion's Company D.[4] He subsequently served as an assistant to the division's judge advocate, J. Leslie Kincaid.[5] The 27th Division commander, John F. O'Ryan, cited Hancock for bravery during combat at Jonc de Mer Ridge, near Le Cateau-Cambrésis, France, on October 18, 1918.[6] During the fighting, Hancock personally conducted front line reconnaissance to determine the best locations to emplace his guns.[7] While under fire throughout the battle, he maintained liaison with the Infantry units his company supported in order to enable their attack.[7] For his heroism, Hancock received the Citation Star.[7] When this award was converted to the Silver Star in 1932,[8] Hancock's decoration was upgraded the new award.[9][10]
Legal career
Hancock was Syracuse's corporation counsel from 1926 to 1927.[11] In addition, he was a longtime member of Wesleyan University's board of trustees and the board of directors of the Syracuse Journal newspaper.[4][11] Hancock was a member of the Onondaga County Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, and Syracuse Chamber of Commerce.[4] From 1928 to 1948, Hancock served as a director of Syracuse's Merchants National Bank and Trust Company.[12]
In addition to his legal career, Hancock was also involved in civic and charitable endeavors, including serving as president of the Syracuse Music Festival Association.[4] In addition, he was vice commander of his American Legion post.[4] Hancock was also an athlete, and was a member of the Sedgwick Farm Club (tennis), Cazenovia Club (golf and tennis), Onondaga Golf and Country Club (golf), and Skaneateles Country Club (golf).[4] Hancock was also a member of several social organizations, including Syracuse's University Club and the Century Club of Syracuse.[4]
Member of Congress
In 1927, Hancock was a successful Republican candidate in a special election for the United States House of Representatives.[11] He was reelected nine times, and served from November 8, 1927, to January 3, 1947.[11] As a member of Congress, Hancock opposed President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.[11] He served on the Judiciary and Naval Affairs Committees and was also chair of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee's speaker's bureau.[11] In addition, he served as head of the party's eastern speaker's bureau for the 1936 elections.[11]
In 1912, Hancock married Emily W. Shonk (1885-1974) of Plymouth, Pennsylvania.[4] They were the parents of a son, John S. Hancock (1914-2007), a veteran of World War II who pursued a banking career in Syracuse.[11][14][15]
^Brown, Samantha (2013). "Biographical Note, Clarence E. Hancock". M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives: Clarence E. Hancock Papers, 1929-1946. Albany, NY: State University of New York at Albany. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
