Richard Furlong Mitchell (October 11, 1889 – August 2, 1969)[1][2] was the chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court from December 6, 1932, to December 31, 1942, appointed from Webster County, Iowa.

Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa,[1] he was the son of Sarah A. (née Furlong) and Peter M. Mitchell.[3] His grandson is comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan.[4]

In 1946, President Harry S. Truman appointed Mitchell to the Interstate Commerce Commission.[1] In the 1944 Iowa gubernatorial election, Mitchell was the Democratic nominee for governor of Iowa.

Mitchell died at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, at the age of 79.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Former Iowa Supreme Court Judge Dies", Sioux City Journal (August 3, 1969), p. 8.
  2. ^ "Richard F. Mitchell (1932-1943)". Iowa Judicial Branch. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  3. ^ Rosow, Jerome M.; Miller, Virginia; Levine, Lillie (1949). "American Men in Government: A Biographical Dictionary and Directory of Federal Officials".
  4. ^ Stated on Finding Your Roots, February 2, 2021.
Party political offices Preceded byNelson G. Kraschel Democratic nominee for Governor of Iowa 1944 Succeeded byFrank Miles Political offices Preceded byWilliam L. Bliss Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court 1932–1942 Succeeded byJohn E. Mulroney