San Francisco
County
Biographies
WALTER McGOVERN
Walter
McGovern, lawyer, was born in San Francisco, California, on December 7, 1886;
the son of John Francis and Catherine (McLaughlin) McGovern. He received his
education in California and Washington.
Mr. McGovern served as assistant
district attorney of San Francisco, 1918-1919; sole State Senator for City and
County of San Francisco, under the Federal Plan, 1935-1939. He was identified
in legislation with the bi-partisan group who supported the program of
progressive social legislation; chairman of Municipal Corporations Committee
and of San Francisco Harbor Investigating Committee of the Senate; introduced
and sponsored the California Business and Professional Code in 1937 and also
various amendments to Probate, Civil, Vehicle, Welfare and Civil Procedure
Codes; led the fight against illegitimate lobbyist practices in 1935 and 1937
legislative sessions, serving on lobbyist investigating committee of Senate;
sponsored (1937) state appropriation for the Golden Gate International
Exposition in 1937-1940, in the Senate.
From 1939 to 1943, Mr. McGovern was
a member of the San Francisco Police Commission and acted as president from
1940 to 1943; aided in bringing about modernization and re-organization of the
police department including appointment of C. W. Dullea
as Chief of Police; also aided in establishing a police shooting range at Lake
Merced; sponsored better conditions for members of the department, including
creation of the San Francisco Police Officer’s Association.
Mr. McGovern was a delegate to the
Republican National Convention at Philadelphia in 1940; presided at Northern
California reception to Wendel Willkie for President,
San Francisco, 1940.
In his law practice he has
participated as trial counsel in many celebrated trials throughout California.
Member of the Bar Association of San
Francisco (former member of Board of Governors), State Bar of California;
Commonwealth and Olympic Clubs; Knight of Columbus; N. S. G. W.; and Loyal
Order of Moose.
Mr. McGovern married Kathryn Neumann
of Seattle. Their home is at 2750 Fulton Street, San Francisco, California.
Offices: 625 Market Street, San Francisco, California.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Eminent Californians 1953”,
by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Page 291, C. W. Taylor
Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.
San Francisco County Biographies