Francis Earl Curran
Encyclopedia
Francis Earl "Frank" Curran (December 19, 1912 – October 18, 1992) was an American
Democratic politician
from California
.
. His father was a boxer under the name "Red Kenney" and operated a wallpaper-hanging business. The family moved to Oceanside, California
in 1919. Curran met his wife Florance on Oceanside Pier and they were married in 1936. She was born 1913 in Denver
.
Curran was elected to the San Diego City Council and served from 1955–1963. He was elected mayor of San Diego in 1962, and served between 1963 and 1971. During his term, the Civic Center was built, a ballot issue passed to build a new stadium
in Mission Valley
, and a metropolitan sewer system. He said "If we hadn't built that, we couldn't have done anything else." At the end of his term Curran was embroiled in the "Yellow Cab" bribery scandal. It was alleged he raised taxi rates for campaign contributions. He and seven city council members were indicted. Curran was cleared by a jury, but could not escape the charge politically. He didn't resign, but his hopes of running again for any office were lost. After Curran left as mayor he continued to be active in civic affairs. He was director for the Central City Association.
Curran died in 1992 after suffering from a broken vertebra and is buried at Eternal Hills Memorial Park. His wife Florance died January 4, 2000. Curran's brother Richard was Municipal Court judge.
. While mayor he had a walkway built over a busy street so students could easily cross to get to classes. After Curran's widow died, it was found out he left his entire estate, worth about US$ 1,000,000, to City College. Curran Plaza was named to honor his efforts for City College.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Biography
Frank Curran was born in 1912 in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. His father was a boxer under the name "Red Kenney" and operated a wallpaper-hanging business. The family moved to Oceanside, California
Oceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
in 1919. Curran met his wife Florance on Oceanside Pier and they were married in 1936. She was born 1913 in Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.
Curran was elected to the San Diego City Council and served from 1955–1963. He was elected mayor of San Diego in 1962, and served between 1963 and 1971. During his term, the Civic Center was built, a ballot issue passed to build a new stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
in Mission Valley
Mission Valley, California
Mission Valley is a wide river valley trending east-west in San Diego, California, through which the San Diego River flows to the Pacific Ocean...
, and a metropolitan sewer system. He said "If we hadn't built that, we couldn't have done anything else." At the end of his term Curran was embroiled in the "Yellow Cab" bribery scandal. It was alleged he raised taxi rates for campaign contributions. He and seven city council members were indicted. Curran was cleared by a jury, but could not escape the charge politically. He didn't resign, but his hopes of running again for any office were lost. After Curran left as mayor he continued to be active in civic affairs. He was director for the Central City Association.
Curran died in 1992 after suffering from a broken vertebra and is buried at Eternal Hills Memorial Park. His wife Florance died January 4, 2000. Curran's brother Richard was Municipal Court judge.
San Diego City College
Curran took classes at San Diego Junior College, now San Diego City CollegeSan Diego City College
San Diego City College is a public, two-year community college located in San Diego, California. City College is part of the San Diego Community College District along with San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College and San Diego Continuing Education...
. While mayor he had a walkway built over a busy street so students could easily cross to get to classes. After Curran's widow died, it was found out he left his entire estate, worth about US$ 1,000,000, to City College. Curran Plaza was named to honor his efforts for City College.