Harry D. Boivin
Harry Boivin | |
---|---|
Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
In office 1937–1939 | |
Preceded by | Howard Latourette |
Succeeded by | Ernest R. Fatland |
Constituency | Klamath County |
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 32nd district | |
In office 1935–1942 | |
Preceded by | Ralph W. Horan |
Succeeded by | Louis H. Caver |
Personal details | |
Born | Ashland, Oregon | February 7, 1904
Died | March 15, 1999 Medford, Oregon | (aged 95)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Vivian McCauley Boivin and Ruth S. Padgett |
Profession | Lawyer |
Harry Dolan Boivin (February 7, 1904 – March 15, 1999) was an American lawyer and politician. He was a member of the
Early life
Boivin was born in Ashland, Oregon on February 7, 1904, the son of Henry and Nellie Boivin. The family moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1906. He received a bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University; then went on to earn a law degree from the university.[1][2]
In 1923, Boivin became an associate in a Klamath Falls law firm headed by Claude McColloch. When McColloch was appointed to the
In 1934, Boivin married Vivian McCauley. Together they had two children.[1]
Political career
Boivin, a Democrat, was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1935, representing Klamath County. He was re-elected in 1937. At that time, he was only 33 years old.[4] When his peers in the House of Representatives elected him speaker, he became the youngest speaker in Oregon history. He went on to serve two more terms as a state representative, holding his seat through 1942.[1][2][4][5]
During World War II, Boivin worked in the United States Attorney's office in Portland, Oregon. After the war, he resumed his private law practice in Klamath Falls.[2] He spearheaded the drive to establish the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, which opened in 1947.[5][6]
In 1955, Boivin was elected to the Oregon State Senate. He served in the senate for the next 18 years, completing his last term in 1972. During his tenure in the senate, Boivin's colleagues elected him Senate president twice, in 1961 and 1965.[1][2][5][7]
In 1957, the Oregon state senate was evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, with 15 senators from each party. As a result, the chamber was unable to elect a president for 11 days. For 288 ballots, the 15 Democratic senators voted for their leader, Walter J. Pearson. The Republicans also voted as a block, alternating their 15 votes between their leader, Warren C. Gill, and three conservative Democrats the Republicans were willing to accept as president. Boivin was one of the three Democrats that Republicans favored, but he voted with his party colleagues. However, on the 289th ballot, Boivin broke ranks with his fellow Democrats and voted for Boyd R. Overhulse instead of Pearson. The entire senate, Republicans and Democrats, followed Boivin's lead. As a result, Overhulse was unanimously elected President of the Senate, becoming the first Democrat to hold that position in 79 years. Overhulse was a moderate Democrat from eastern Oregon, but no one had considered him for president because he had just been elected and had only served 11 days in the senate.[8][9][10][11]
For almost a decade in the 1960s and early 1970s, Boivin and a small group of conservative Democrats joined the Republican minority to control the senate. During this period, various conservative Democrats were elected president of the senate with the help of Republican senators. The senate president then appointed other members of the conservative Democratic clique to chair key committees with the rest of the committee chairmanships going to Republicans. This arrangement gave Boivin great influence within the senate.[4][12]
In 1964, he helped move the Oregon Institute of Technology to a new campus overlooking
In 1971, Boivin played a key role in the ratification of the
It was such parliamentary maneuvers that earned Boivin the nickname The Fox. After his retirement from the legislature, The Oregon Journal said: "Harry Boivin was a master of the art of wheeling and dealing." The article also noted that Boivin took pride in his nickname because it underscored his ability to get things done.[2][5]
Later life
After leaving the state Senate in 1972, Boivin continued to practice law in Klamath Falls. Over the years, he held a number of other positions including chairman of the
Boivin was honored by the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce in 1980 for his contributions to the local business community. In 1992, he received an honorary doctorate of technology degree from the Oregon Institute of Technology. The college also honored him with a special service award in 1995.[1][2]
His wife, Vivian, died in 1985. In 1986, he married Ruth S. Padgett. Boivin died on 15 March 1999 in Medford, Oregon, at the age of 95. He was interred at the Klamath Memorial Park in Klamath Falls.[1][2][16]
Legacy
After his death in 1999, the 70th Oregon Legislative Assembly passed a concurrent resolution honoring Boivin for his 26 years of service as a citizen legislator. The resolution recognized his many legislative accomplishments and highlighted his ability to build coalitions across political and ideological boundaries for the benefit of the state of Oregon and its people.[5]
Throughout his life, Boivin was a great supporter of education. As a state legislator, he was the driving force behind the establishment of the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls. He established a $1.25 million trust fund for the college in 1995.[2][5] In 2000, one of the academic buildings at the Oregon Institute of Technology was renamed in his honor.[17]
Today, Boivin's personal papers are archived in the Shaw Historical Library at the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The collection includes legislature booklets, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and family papers covering the period 1935 to 1971.[18]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Swensen, Julie, "Onetime legislative leader Boivin dies", Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, 17 March 1999.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Baker, Nina and Osker Spicer, "The Fox of legislative fame, Harry Boivin, dies at age 95", The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 18 March 1999.
- ^ "Boivin, Uerlings, DiIaconi, P.C." Archived 2011-12-02 at the Wayback Machine, www.riverbasinlaw.com, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 4 September 2011.
- ^ a b c Sadler, Russell, "The Fox leave big political legacy", The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, 21 March 1999, p. 3F.
- ^ a b c d e f "In memoriam: Former state Representative and state Senator Harry Dolan Boivin, 1904-1999" Archived 2012-08-13 at the Wayback Machine, Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, 70th Oregon Legislative Assembly, Regular Session, Salem, Oregon, 1999.
- ^ a b Silling, Ed, "Oregon Institute of Technology", Oregon Encyclopedia, Portland State University, Portland Oregon, 5 September 2011.
- ^ Hughes, Harold E. (November 12, 1964). "GOP, Democratic Coalition Supporting Boivin Shows Signs of Strain". The Oregonian.
- ^ Harvey, Paula W., Senate deadlock Ends, Overhulse New Leader, Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, January 25, 1957, p. 1.(subscription required)
- ^ "Madras Man Elected president of Senate", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, January 25, 1957, p. 1.(subscription required)
- ^ "Solons Go to Work After Electing Demo President", Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Oregon, January 25, 1957, p. 1.(subscription required)
- ^ Olson, James D., "Overhulse Win Chair", Daily Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 25, 1957, p. 1.(subscription required)
- ^ a b "Harry Boivin, He Believed in Coalitions", The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, 19 May 1999, p. 16A.
- ^ "Boivin named to head off field closure", The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 28 January 1971, p. 2.
- ^ Willis, Henny, "18-year-old vote bill goes back to panel", The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, 29 May 1971, p. 14B.
- ^ Willis, Henny, "Rap of Gavel Ends Three-day Paralysis of Oregon Senate", The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, 3 June 1971, p. C1.
- ^ "A Gracious lady", The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, 25 May 1985, p. 16A.
- ^ "Renaming of South Hall to Boivin Hall", minutes of regular meeting, Oregon State Board of Higher Education, Clackamas, Oregon, 21 October 1999.
- ^ "Harry D. Boivin Collection", Shaw Library Non-Book Collections, Shaw Historical Library, Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 8 September 2011.
External links
- Oregon State Archives 1957 Regular Session
- Oregon State Archives 1955 Regular Session
- Oregon State Archives 1941 Regular Session
- Oregon State Archives 1939 Regular Session
- Oregon State Archives 1937 Regular Session
- Oregon State Archives 1935 Regular Session
- Oregon State Archives 1935 Special Session, Page 5
- Oregon State Archives: Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide