John J. Dunnigan
Encyclopedia
John J. Dunnigan was an American architect
, builder and politician from New York
. He was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate
from 1933 to 1938.
from 1917 to 1944, was President pro tempore from 1933 to 1938, and Minority Leader from 1931 to 1932, and from 1939 to 1944. He was a delegate to the New York Convention to ratify the 21st Amendment in 1933.
He co-authored the Parimutuel betting
law which legalized betting on horses at the racetracks, and banished the bookmaker
s from the tracks. It also gave the State a 5% share in the bets. He inaugurated the novelty by buying the first ticket at Jamaica Racetrack
in April 1940.
His son James J. Dunnigan (1912-1983) was President of the Buffalo Raceway in Hamburg, NY
from its establishment in 1942 until the 1960s.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, builder and politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
The Majority Leader of the New York State Senate is elected by the majority of the members of the New York State Senate. The position usually coincides with the title of Temporary President of the State Senate, who presides over the session of the State Senate if the Lieutenant Governor of New York...
from 1933 to 1938.
Life
He was a Democratic member of the New York State SenateNew York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1917 to 1944, was President pro tempore from 1933 to 1938, and Minority Leader from 1931 to 1932, and from 1939 to 1944. He was a delegate to the New York Convention to ratify the 21st Amendment in 1933.
He co-authored the Parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the "house-take" or "vig" is removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets...
law which legalized betting on horses at the racetracks, and banished the bookmaker
Bookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
s from the tracks. It also gave the State a 5% share in the bets. He inaugurated the novelty by buying the first ticket at Jamaica Racetrack
Jamaica Racetrack
Jamaica Race Course was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in Jamaica, New York. The track opened on April 27, 1903, a day which featured the inaugural running of the Excelsior Handicap. Eugene D. Wood, one of the founders and largest...
in April 1940.
His son James J. Dunnigan (1912-1983) was President of the Buffalo Raceway in Hamburg, NY
Hamburg (town), New York
Hamburg is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 56,259.The Town of Hamburg is on the western border of the county and is south of Buffalo, New York. Hamburg is one of the "Southtowns" in Erie County...
from its establishment in 1942 until the 1960s.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/dunnagan-dunwell.html Political Graveyard
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00916F93D5D167A93C0A81789D95F418685F9 Obit in NYT on December 12, 1965 (subscription required)
- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,794987,00.html The inauguration of the new parimutuel betting, in TIME Magazine on April 29, 1940