Richard McMullen

Richard Cann McMullen ( born January 2, 1868 in Glasgow, Delaware, † February 18, 1944 in Wilmington, Delaware ) was an American politician and 1937-1941 Governor of the State of Delaware.

Early years

Richard McMullen attended the common schools and the Goldey College in Wilmington. In addition, he worked as a temporary worker on a farm. After that, he was employed in a tanner and leather factory. In 1917 he started his own business and two partners founded the Allied Kid Company in Wilmington. McMullen was initially as Vice President and later CEO.

Political rise

McMullen was a member of the Democratic Party. He was City Council in Wilmington and a member of the state public utility commission of Delaware ( Public Utility Commission ). He was also a member of the State Commission, which dealt with the unemployment insurance. A bid to run for Mayor of Wilmington, he refused. Instead, he was elected in 1936 as the candidate of his party with 51 % of the vote against Republican Harry L. Cannon and the independent candidate Isaac Short as the new governor of his state. McMullen was the first Democratic governor of Delaware since Ebe W. Tunnell, who served from 1897 to 1901.

Governor of Delaware

Richard McMullen took up his new post on January 19, 1937. In his four-year tenure of the so-called Fair Labor Standard Act was enacted with a minimum wage of 40 cents and the 40 hour week was established. At that time, the last effects of the global economic crisis have been overcome. In 1940, McMullen was running for re-election. When he but a month suffered a heart attack before the election, he withdrew his candidacy. Therefore, he resigned from his post on 21 January 1941.

Further CV

After the end of his tenure, McMullen retired from politics and devoted himself to his private affairs. He died in February 1944 and was buried in Wilmington. With his wife, Florence Hutchinson he had three children.