Lou Papan
Encyclopedia
Louis John Papan was a Democratic
California
politician
. He was known as the "Dean
of the Assembly" for his 20 years in the California State Assembly
.
when he began elementary school. He served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army
during World War II
and a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force
during the Korean War
. He received his BA
in Economics
in 1951 from Syracuse University
in New York
. After graduating from Syracuse, Papan was a Special Agent in the FBI in San Francisco and Chicago
. He became a real estate broker and general insurance agent in 1958 and co-founded the Peninsula Bank of Commerce in 1981.
Council. He was first elected to the California State Assembly
in 1972, where he served until 1986. Papan served as Speaker Pro Tempore from 1974 to 1976, and chaired the powerful Assembly Rules Committee from 1976 to 1986. Instead of seeking reelection to an eighth term in the Assembly in 1986, Papan ran for the 8th State Senate
District seat but was defeated by independent
candidate Quentin L. Kopp
.
After leaving office in 1986, Papan was succeeded by Jackie Speier
and did not return to the Assembly until 1996 when Speier vacated the seat. Papan was re-elected in 1998 and 2000 with over 70% of the vote in his district. Papan was the Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.
In 2006, Papan again ran for the State Senate in the 8th District - but came in third place in the Democratic primary, losing to Leland Yee.
Papan was nicknamed "Leadfoot Lou" for his fast commutes between Sacramento and his Peninsula home, trips that brought him a good share of speeding tickets. Few people knew he raced home to be with his son John, who suffered from a rare congenital condition that eventually ended his life at age 21 in 1981.
The family set up John's Closet—an organization that provides new clothes for needy children. Papan was well known as an advocate for disabled children.
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...
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was known as the "Dean
Dean of the House
The Dean of the House is the member with the longest unbroken record of service in several legislatures. Specific positions include:*Dean of the United States House of Representatives.*Dean of the House of Commons, the dean in the Canadian House of Commons....
of the Assembly" for his 20 years in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
.
Early life
The son of Greek immigrants, was named Elias Papandricopoulos but the doctor did not know how to spell Elias and thus he was named Luis Papan. Lou Papan spoke only GreekModern Greek
Modern Greek refers to the varieties of the Greek language spoken in the modern era. The beginning of the "modern" period of the language is often symbolically assigned to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, even though that date marks no clear linguistic boundary and many characteristic...
when he began elementary school. He served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He received his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1951 from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 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...
. After graduating from Syracuse, Papan was a Special Agent in the FBI in San Francisco and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He became a real estate broker and general insurance agent in 1958 and co-founded the Peninsula Bank of Commerce in 1981.
Public office
In 1970, he was elected to the Daly CityDaly City, California
Daly City is the largest city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with a 2010 population of 101,123. Located immediately south of San Francisco, it is named in honor of businessman and landowner John Daly.-History:...
Council. He was first elected to the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
in 1972, where he served until 1986. Papan served as Speaker Pro Tempore from 1974 to 1976, and chaired the powerful Assembly Rules Committee from 1976 to 1986. Instead of seeking reelection to an eighth term in the Assembly in 1986, Papan ran for the 8th State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District seat but was defeated by independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate Quentin L. Kopp
Quentin L. Kopp
Quentin Lewis Kopp is an American politician and retired judge. He served as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and in the California State Senate. Kopp ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of San Francisco in 1979 against Dianne Feinstein...
.
After leaving office in 1986, Papan was succeeded by Jackie Speier
Jackie Speier
Karen Lorraine Jacqueline "Jackie" Speier is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2008. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and the southwest quarter of San Francisco.She is also a former member of the California State...
and did not return to the Assembly until 1996 when Speier vacated the seat. Papan was re-elected in 1998 and 2000 with over 70% of the vote in his district. Papan was the Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.
In 2006, Papan again ran for the State Senate in the 8th District - but came in third place in the Democratic primary, losing to Leland Yee.
Family
Papan's wife of 42 years, Irene, died in 2000. They had two daughters Virginia and Diane. Virginia formerly worked as a Deputy Attorney General and now is the Deputy Director of the California Office of Criminal Justice Planning. Diane practices law in San Francisco.Papan was nicknamed "Leadfoot Lou" for his fast commutes between Sacramento and his Peninsula home, trips that brought him a good share of speeding tickets. Few people knew he raced home to be with his son John, who suffered from a rare congenital condition that eventually ended his life at age 21 in 1981.
The family set up John's Closet—an organization that provides new clothes for needy children. Papan was well known as an advocate for disabled children.
Memorial tributes
- GovernorGovernor of CaliforniaThe Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
said, "Lou Papan was a dedicated public servant who devoted himself to improving the lives of all Californians. From Daly City Councilmember to chairman of the state Assembly Rules Committee, Lou's hard work and distinguished service is an inspiration to all. Maria and I offer our deepest condolences to Lou's family during this difficult time." - CongressmanUnited States House of RepresentativesThe 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...
Tom LantosTom LantosThomas Peter "Tom" Lantos was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 until his death, representing the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and a portion of southwest San Francisco...
placed the following statement in the Congressional RecordCongressional RecordThe Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
: "I rise with sadness today to share with my colleagues in the House news of the death of a California public servant from my home district. Lou Papan, known as the "Dean" of the California State Assembly, died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 28, 2007. He was 78 years old. Lou Papan was practically a force of nature in state and local politics." - "He was an incredible guy," said Alex TourkAlex TourkAlex Tourk is a political consultant from San Francisco, California. He has worked as an aide to California Assembly member Lou Papan and San Francisco Mayors Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom and served as campaign manager for Jackie Speier's bid for California's 12th Congressional District...
, who worked on his Assembly staff for four years. "He was one of those rare politicians who would advocate publicly what he believed privately." - Known as "The Enforcer" for his ability to shepherd votes, Lou Papan's shadow was cast large in Sacramento, over both opponents and supporters.
Awards/Honors
- Papan received the Ellis Island Medal of HonorEllis Island Medal of HonorThe Ellis Island Medal of Honor was founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and intended to pay homage to the immigrant experience. The medals honor the contribution made to America by immigrants and the legacy they left behind in the successes of their children and grand-children...
in 1996. The award is given by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) to ethnic Americans who have made significant contributions to this country. - The California State LegislatureCalifornia State LegislatureThe California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
renamed a section of Highway 1California State Route 1State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
, from the Daly CityDaly City, CaliforniaDaly City is the largest city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with a 2010 population of 101,123. Located immediately south of San Francisco, it is named in honor of businessman and landowner John Daly.-History:...
border south through the City of PacificaPacifica, CaliforniaPacifica is a city in San Mateo County, California, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay.-Overview:The City of Pacifica is spread along a six mile stretch of the north central California coastal beach and hills, nestled in several small valleys spanning between...
along the scenic coast, as the "Louis J. Papan Highway." He is given credit for successfully securing funding to purchase beachfront property in Pacifica for the State Parks system.
External links
- Voter information, League of Women VotersLeague of Women VotersThe League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
- Candidate biography, JoinCalifornia