Fred Hall
Encyclopedia
Frederick "Fred" Lee Hall (July 24, 1916 – March 18, 1970) was a Republican
lawyer
and politician
who served as Lieutenant Governor
of Kansas
, 1951–55 and the 33rd Governor of Kansas
, 1955-57. He resigned to become a justice of Kansas Supreme Court
in 1957 after being defeated in the primary for re-election to office, in what is known as the "triple-play of 1956."
The "triple play of 1956" occurred when Warren Shaw
defeated Hall in the Republican primary to select the next Kansas Governor and Shaw lost the subsequent Gubernatorial general election to Democrat
George Docking
. Sitting Chief Justice Bill Smith a strong supporter of Hall was seriously ill and contemplating a retirement from his position as Chief Justice. Smith was concerned that if he retired after Docking took office in January 1957, Docking would appoint a Democrat as Chief Justice. Smith, Hall, and Lieutenant Governor John McCuish
devised a plan to prevent this from happening. Chief Justice Smith resigned on December 31, 1956. Smith's resignation was quickly followed by Governor Hall's resignation on January 3, 1957. As a result of Hall's resignation, Lieutenant Governor McCuish was sworn in as Kansas Governor. The only official act of McCuish's 11-day tenure as governor was to appoint Hall as chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court.
He was a member of the Methodist Church and a graduate of the University of Southern California
where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau
Fraternity. He was elected to a term on the Phi Kappa Tau National Council in 1956. Hall is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, Kansas.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 1951–55 and the 33rd Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
, 1955-57. He resigned to become a justice of Kansas Supreme Court
Kansas Supreme Court
The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the state of Kansas. Composed of seven justices, led by Chief Justice Lawton Nuss, the Court supervises the legal profession, administers over the judicial branch, and serves as the state court of last resort in the appeals...
in 1957 after being defeated in the primary for re-election to office, in what is known as the "triple-play of 1956."
The "triple play of 1956" occurred when Warren Shaw
Warren W. Shaw
Warren W. Shaw was a judge, a member of U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower's staff during World War II, a representative in the Kansas House of Representatives and the 1956 Republican nominee for Kansas governor....
defeated Hall in the Republican primary to select the next Kansas Governor and Shaw lost the subsequent Gubernatorial general election to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
George Docking
George Docking
George Docking was the 35th Governor of Kansas, .Docking was elected to two terms as governor, but failed to win against Republican candidate John Anderson, Jr. in part because of his stance on the death penalty. He was known to say "I just don't like killing people." Was a delegate to the 1960...
. Sitting Chief Justice Bill Smith a strong supporter of Hall was seriously ill and contemplating a retirement from his position as Chief Justice. Smith was concerned that if he retired after Docking took office in January 1957, Docking would appoint a Democrat as Chief Justice. Smith, Hall, and Lieutenant Governor John McCuish
John McCuish
John Berridge McCuish was the 34th Governor of Kansas.McCuish was born in Leadville, Colorado and attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri before graduating from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas in 1925. After running several Harvey County newspapers, McCuish entered the...
devised a plan to prevent this from happening. Chief Justice Smith resigned on December 31, 1956. Smith's resignation was quickly followed by Governor Hall's resignation on January 3, 1957. As a result of Hall's resignation, Lieutenant Governor McCuish was sworn in as Kansas Governor. The only official act of McCuish's 11-day tenure as governor was to appoint Hall as chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court.
He was a member of the Methodist Church and a graduate of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
Fraternity. He was elected to a term on the Phi Kappa Tau National Council in 1956. Hall is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, Kansas.