Hugo T. Wedell (January 3, 1890 – April 13, 1975) was a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court from July 3, 1935, to January 10, 1955.[1]
Early life and education
He was born January 3, 1890, in Hillsboro, Kansas.[2] For a while he was a professional baseball player,[2] joining the Tri-State League's York White Roses for the 1913 season.[3] He obtained his bachelor's degree in 1915 and his law degree in 1920, both from the University of Kansas.[2] He enrolled as a private in the Signal Corps during World War I but did not go overseas as the armistice was signed.[4]
Career
He was a lawyer in Neosho County and was appointed to investigate the Ronald Finney Bond Scandal.[2][5] He unsuccessfully ran for the state senate in 1930.[2]
Wendell had been working as the Chanute City Attorney for a few months[6] when he was appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court to fill the place vacated by the resignation of the former Chief Justice William Agnew Johnston.[6] He was appointed to serve for the remainder of the term, due to expire January 1, 1937.[6] Both Wedell and Johnston were Republicans.[6] He continued on the court for three full terms, being re-elected in 1936, 1942 and 1948.[2] He declined to run for reelection in 1954, and Clair E. Robb, a Republican, was appointed to replace him.[7]
Personal life and death
He married Hazel Houston and had at least one daughter.[8]
He died in Wichita, Kansas, at the age of 85 on Sunday April 13, 1975.[9]
References
- ^ "KS Courts - Historical Listing of Supreme Court Justices". www.kscourts.org. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Lee, R. Alton (2014). Sunflower Justice: A New History of the Kansas Supreme Court. U of Nebraska Press. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-8032-5410-7.
- ^ "Wedell". Baseball Reference. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ "25 May 1939, 1 - The Morning Chronicle at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "23 Dec 1933, Page 6 - The Emporia Gazette at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d "1 Jul 1935, Page 6 - The Emporia Gazette at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "8 Jan 1955, 8 - The Parsons Sun at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "1 Aug 1930, 4 - The Galena Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "14 Apr 1975, Page 1 - Garden City Telegram at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.