Bruce S. Jones

Bruce S. Jones (1883 – after 1977) was an American politician who served as the 37th Mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Bruce S. Jones
Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from Laramie
In office 1947–1951
37th Mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming
In office May 8, 1944 – 1946
Preceded by	Ira L. Hanna
Succeeded by	John J. McInerney
Member of the Cheyenne, Wyoming City Council
In office 1944 – September 1944
Preceded by	Al Kay J.A. Buchanan
Succeeded by	George L. Kemp
Personal details
Born	1883 Laramie, Wyoming, United States
Died	After 1977
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Vera G. Gilland
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army

Early life

Bruce S. Jones was born in 1883, in Laramie, Wyoming. During World War I he enlisted into the United States Army and served at the Presidio in San Francisco, California. However, due to health problems he was not able to serve overseas.[1]

Career

On October 19, 1943, he, Al Kay, Gus Fleischli, and J.A. Buchanan received the four highest amounts of votes out of nine candidates in the city council primary. [2] On November 2, he and Fleischli defeated Kay and Buchanan, who were the incumbents.[3]

Mayor

On March 20, 1944, Mayor Ira L. Hanna was arrested at a city council meeting and Chief of Police Jesse B. Ekdall, Captain Gerald J. Morris, and Sergeant E. K. Violette later voluntarily turned themselves in.[4] Jones and Gus Fleischli, the remaining members of the city council following Hanna's arrest, voted to make juvenile officer F. B. McVicar the acting chief of police.[5] After all four men were convicted on charges of soliciting and accepting bribes Jones and Fleischli approved a resolution that declared the position of mayor vacant due to Hanna's conviction and appointed Jones as acting mayor on May 8.[6]

On May 17, 1944, Jones appointed McVicar to serve as chief of police to serve the remainder of Ekdall's two year term.[7] In September, he resigned from his position on the city council and officially became mayor. George L. Kemp was appointed to replace Jones on the city council and as commissioner of finance.[8]

On October 9, 1945, he announced that he would not run in the mayoral primary election.[9]

State legislature

Jones served in the Wyoming House of Representatives before his election to Cheyenne's city council and announced on June 7, 1946, that he would seek the Republican nomination to run for the state House of Representatives.[10] He won the Republican nomination and was elected in the general election.[11]

He was appointed to serve on the Memorials and federal relations and the Corporations and public utilities committees during the 1947-1949 legislative session.[12] In 1950, he was selected to serve as the serjeant-at-arms.[13]

In 1947, he announced that he would run in the Cheyenne mayoral primary, but placed third behind John J. Mcinerney and Benjamin C. Nelson.[14][15] In 1949, he ran in the mayoral primary again, but came in third place behind incumbent Mayor Benjamin Nelson and R. J. Keelan.[16][17]

In 1950, he and Howard L. Burke were given the Republican nomination to run for Senate from Laramie County.[18]

Electoral history

1947 Cheyenne, Wyoming mayoral primary[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Nonpartisan	John J. McInerney (incumbent)	2,325	41.80%
	Nonpartisan	Benjamin Nelson	2,277	40.94%
	Nonpartisan	Bruce S. Jones	960	17.26%
Total votes			5,562	100.00%

1949 Cheyenne, Wyoming mayoral primary[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Nonpartisan	Benjamin Nelson (incumbent)	3,975	55.64%
	Nonpartisan	R. J. Keelan	1,070	14.98%
	Nonpartisan	Bob Cox	837	11.72%
	Nonpartisan	Bruce S. Jones	764	10.69%
	Nonpartisan	Harvey Roach	442	6.19%
	Nonpartisan	Don Johnson	56	0.78%
Total votes			7,144	100.00%

References

1. "Memorial Day's meaning recalled". Casper Star-Tribune. May 30, 1977. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Cheyenne Mayor Loses Primary". Casper Star-Tribune. October 20, 1943. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Hanna Elected Cheyenne Mayor". Casper Star-Tribune. November 3, 1943. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Charged with Taking Bribes". Casper Star-Tribune. March 20, 1944. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Acting Chief of Police". Casper Star-Tribune. March 21, 1944. p. 5. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Cheyenne Commissioners Appoint Acting Mayor". Casper Star-Tribune. May 8, 1944. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "New Cheyenne Chief Appointed". Casper Star-Tribune. May 17, 1944. p. 5. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "George Kemp On Cheyenne Council". Casper Star-Tribune. September 5, 1944. p. 4. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Cheyenne Mayor Is Not Candidate For Reelection". Casper Star-Tribune. October 9, 1945. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Jones Will Run For Legislature". Casper Star-Tribune. June 7, 1946. p. 9. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Republicans Gain 10 Seats In State House, hold Senate". Casper Star-Tribune. November 7, 1946. p. 2. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Committees in House Listed". Casper Star-Tribune. January 15, 1947. p. 2. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Jobs Filled for Special Session". Casper Star-Tribune. February 15, 1950. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Bruce Jones in Cheyenne Race". Casper Star-Tribune. September 28, 1947. p. 2. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Nelson, McInerney Winners in Ballot". Casper Star-Tribune. October 22, 1947. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Six Candidates to Run For Mayor of Cheyenne". Casper Star-Tribune. October 16, 1949. p. 4. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Nelson Re-Nominated for Post of Cheyenne Mayor". Casper Star-Tribune. October 26, 1949. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Carl Johnson Enters Hot Dem Race For Governor". Casper Star-Tribune. July 26, 1950. p. 16. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Bruce S. Jones at Find a Grave