John McCuish | |
|---|---|
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| 34th Governor of Kansas | |
| In office January 3, 1957 – January 14, 1957 | |
| Lieutenant | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Fred Hall |
| Succeeded by | George Docking |
| 32nd Lieutenant Governor of Kansas | |
| In office January 10, 1955 – January 8, 1957 | |
| Governor | Fred Hall |
| Preceded by | Fred Hall |
| Succeeded by | Joseph W. Henkle, Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 22, 1906 Leadville, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | March 12, 1962 (aged 55) Newton, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Cora Hedrick |
| Education | Washburn University |
| Profession | Advertising salesman, newspaper editor, politician |
John Berridge McCuish (June 22, 1906 – March 12, 1962) was the 34th governor of Kansas, briefly serving in 1957 after two years as the 32nd lieutenant governor of Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, McCuish had the shortest tenure as Governor of Kansas in history at only 11 days, though he did appoint Fred Hall, who had preceded him as governor, to the Kansas Supreme Court.
McCuish was born in Leadville, Colorado, and attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri, before graduating from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, in 1925. He married Cora E. Hedrick on September 9, 1925.
McCuish began his journalism career as a newspaper-advertising salesman. He became owner and editor of the Hillsboro Star and returned to Newton, Kansas and owned and edited the Harvey County News from 1930 to 1958.[1] He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1936.
McCuish entered the U. S. Army to serve in World War II as a private and participated in the Anzio landings. He also aided the American Red Cross in Germany.[2] After returning from Germany, McCuish held several positions with the Kansas Republican Party including being a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1948.[3]
Elected Lieutenant Governor of Kansas, McCuish began his term in 1954 under Governor Fred Hall. Governor Hall, who had been defeated for renomination in 1956, resigned on January 3, 1957, eleven days before the inauguration of his successor, Democrat George Docking. McCuish became governor of Kansas for those eleven days, making his administration the shortest in the history of the state. His one official act as governor was to appoint Hall to the State Supreme Court, in what is known as "the triple play of 1956," as a way of denying Docking the opportunity to appoint the new chief justice. While this "triple play" was perfectly legal, many considered it to be unethical.
After leaving office, McCuish returned to the newspaper business, but continued to be politically active. After becoming an independent oil operator, he sold his newspaper and devoted his time to the oil business.
McCuish died after suffering a stroke and is interred at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton, Kansas.
