Robert Q. Crane

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Robert Q. Crane
Preceded byJohn T. Driscoll
Succeeded byJoe Malone
Chairperson of the Massachusetts Democratic Party
In office
April 4, 1971 – October 30, 1971
Preceded byDavid E. Harrison
Succeeded byCharles Flaherty
Personal details
Born
Robert Quentin Crane

(1926-03-21)March 21, 1926
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
DiedJanuary 5, 2018(2018-01-05) (aged 91)
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materBoston College

Robert Quentin Crane (March 21, 1926 – January 5, 2018) was an American politician who served as Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts from 1964 to 1991. He was credited with starting the Massachusetts Lottery.[1]

Early life

Crane was born in 1926 in

English High School of Boston and Boston College. Crane served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.[2]

Career

Crane served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1957 to 1964. He served as the chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Crane was appointed state treasurer in 1964.[2] He defeated Louise Day Hicks, John Francis Kennedy, and John J. Buckley for the Democratic partys nomination in 1964.[1][3] He went on to easily defeat Republican Robert C. Hahn in the general election.[4]

In 1971, became the founding chairman of the Massachusetts State Lottery.[1] The closest Crane came to losing his office was in 1974 when he defeated Charles Mark Furcolo, a Boston attorney and son of former governor John Foster Furcolo, 51%-49% in the Democratic primary.[5] He retired from politics in 1991, amid accusations of patronage and nepotism.[1]

Death

Crane died on January 5, 2018, aged 91.[6]

References

  1. ^
    Boston Globe
    . Retrieved December 9, 2009. A who's who of local and state politicians turned out at Boston College yesterday morning to dedicate a small campus park to former state treasurer Robert Q. Crane, who served in that position for 27 years and is credited with bringing the lottery to the Commonwealth.
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA Treasurer - D Primary Race". ourcampaigns.com. September 10, 1964. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA Treasurer Race". ourcampaigns.com. November 3, 1964. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA Treasurer - D Primary Race". ourcampaigns.com. September 10, 1974. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  5. ^ "Former state treasurer Robert Crane dies at 91". Taunton Daily Gazette. January 7, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
1964–1991
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party
April 4, 1971 – October 30, 1971
Succeeded by