Colonel William A. Phillips

Powers circa 1939
Powers in the 1960s

John E. Powers (November 10, 1910 – July 31, 1998) was an American politician who served as President of the Massachusetts Senate from 1959 to 1964.

Powers, a former clam digger, messenger, and machine operator, served as a State Senator from Boston from 1940 to 1964 and Supreme Judicial Court of Suffolk County from 1964 to 1988.[1] He was twice a candidate for Mayor of Boston. He lost to incumbent John B. Hynes in the 1955 mayoral election.[2][3] Following Hynes' retirement, Powers became the front-runner for the mayorship, however he lost to Boston City Council member John F. Collins in the 1959 mayoral election,[4] despite having the most votes in the preliminary election amongst five candidates.[5]

Powers is remembered on the Boston Irish Heritage Trail.[6]

See also

References