William J. Pennock
William J. Pennock | |
|---|---|
 Pennock c. 1939 | |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 35th district | |
| In office January 9, 1939 – January 13, 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 10, 1915 Jamestown, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 2, 1953 (aged 38) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Communist (secretly) Progressive (1948) |
| Spouse | Louise |
| Children | Peter |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
William Jonathan Pennock[1] (March 10, 1915 – August 2, 1953)[2] was an American activist and politician who served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 1939 to 1947,[3] as executive secretary of the Washington Pension Union from 1938[4] to 1944,[5] and as president of the WPU from 1944[6] until his death in 1953.[7]
He was elected as a Democrat with the support of the Washington Commonwealth Federation,[8] but was secretly a member of the Communist Party,[9][10][11][12] a fact which came to light during the Canwell Committee hearings in 1948.[13] He was later prosecuted under the Smith Act as part of the "Seattle Seven," and committed suicide 80 days into the trial.[14] He was survived by a wife and son.[15]
References
- ^ "Youth Ejected From Capitol". Associated Press. March 10, 1937. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ Caughlan, John (1953). The Bill Pennock Story. Seattle: Washington Pension Union. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "William J. Pennock Photograph Collection, circa 1920s-1950s". archiveswest.orbiscascade.org. University of Washington. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Old Age Group Attacks Ernst". Associated Press. December 5, 1938. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Discuss A Tax To Pay Pension". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane. September 25, 1943. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Pension Union Urges 4th Term". The Seattle Star. Seattle. June 21, 1944. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Seattle Coroner Lists Pennock's Death As Suicide by Poison". Associated Press. August 4, 1953. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ Black, Gordon; Salter, Daren; Gregory, James. "Who's Who in the Communist Party of Washington State". depts.washington.edu. University of Washington. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Pension Society Head Admits Lie". Associated Press. July 30, 1953. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ Phipps, Jennifer. "Washington Commonwealth Federation & Washington Pension Union". depts.washington.edu. University of Washington. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Communist Party of Washington State brief history". cpusa.org. Communist Party USA. March 13, 2002. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ Crowley, Walt (1996). To Serve the Greatest Number. United States: Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound. pp. 12, 29, 71–72. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ Kershner, Jim (July 28, 2011). "Canwell, Albert F. (1907-2002)". historylink.org. HistoryLink. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ DeLauder, Jesse. "The Seattle Seven: The Smith Act Trials in Seattle (1952–1958)". depts.washington.edu. University of Washington. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Red Defendant, Pennock, Is Dead". Associated Press. August 3, 1953. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
External links