Chester B. McMullen
Encyclopedia
Chester Bartow McMullen (December 6, 1902 – November 3, 1953) was an American lawyer
and politician
from the state
of Florida
.
McMullen was born in Largo, Florida
to Eli and Emma Cox McMullen and attended Largo High School. His paternal grandfather, Daniel McMullen (d. 1908), was one of Largo's first homesteaders, and his father was PInellas County's first Tax Collector upon its secession from Hillsborough County in 1912. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1924. He was admitted to the bar
the same year and entered private practice
in Clearwater, Florida
. McMullen served as prosecuting attorney of Pinellas County
from 1927 to 1928. In 1923 while at UF he married Veda E. Ulmer, daughter of prominent Largo planter and banker M.W. Ulmer. They had two children: Chester Jr. and Elizabeth.
McMullen was elected state attorney for Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit
in 1930. He served as state attorney for 20 years, until he was elected as a Democrat
to the United States House of Representatives
as the member from Florida's 1st congressional district
in the 1950 election. He served only a single term, from January 3, 1951 to January 3, 1953 (the 82nd Congress
); he did not seek renomination in 1952.
McMullen also served as director of the First National Bank of Clearwater. He died in Clearwater in 1953 and was interred in Sylvan Abbey there.
Law of the United States
The law of the United States consists of many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, the foundation of the federal government of the United States...
and politician
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
McMullen was born in Largo, Florida
Largo, Florida
Largo is the third largest city in Pinellas County, Florida, USA and is part of the Tampa Bay Area. Centrally located, it is the crossroads of the county. As of the 2000 census, the City had a total population of 69,371. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau was...
to Eli and Emma Cox McMullen and attended Largo High School. His paternal grandfather, Daniel McMullen (d. 1908), was one of Largo's first homesteaders, and his father was PInellas County's first Tax Collector upon its secession from Hillsborough County in 1912. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1924. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year and entered private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
. McMullen served as prosecuting attorney of Pinellas County
Pinellas County, Florida
Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its county seat is Clearwater, Florida, and its largest city is St. Petersburg. This county is contained entirely within the telephone area code 727, except for some sections of Oldsmar, which have the area code 813...
from 1927 to 1928. In 1923 while at UF he married Veda E. Ulmer, daughter of prominent Largo planter and banker M.W. Ulmer. They had two children: Chester Jr. and Elizabeth.
McMullen was elected state attorney for Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit
Florida Circuit Courts
The Florida Circuit Courts are state courts. They are trial courts of original jurisdiction for most controversies. In Florida, the circuit courts are one of four types of courts created by the Florida Constitution .The Circuit Courts primarily handle civil cases where...
in 1930. He served as state attorney for 20 years, until he was elected as a 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...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as the member from Florida's 1st congressional district
Florida's 1st congressional district
Florida's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida, covering the state's western Panhandle. It includes all of Escambia, Holmes, Washington, and Santa Rosa counties and portions of Okaloosa and Walton counties...
in the 1950 election. He served only a single term, from January 3, 1951 to January 3, 1953 (the 82nd Congress
82nd United States Congress
The Eighty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1951 to January 3, 1953, during the last two years...
); he did not seek renomination in 1952.
McMullen also served as director of the First National Bank of Clearwater. He died in Clearwater in 1953 and was interred in Sylvan Abbey there.