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William Bains-Jordan

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William Bains-Jordan
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
from the 10th district
In office
1959–1962
Preceded byMulti-member district
Succeeded byMulti-member district
Personal details
Born
William Harry Bains-Jordan

(1916-12-12)December 12, 1916
Hilo, Hawaii, U.S.
DiedFebruary 4, 2021(2021-02-04) (aged 104)
Madison, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMarjorie Helen Marques
Children3
EducationUniversity of Hawaiʻi

William Harry Bains-Jordan[1] (December 12, 1916 – February 4, 2021) was an American politician who served in the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 10th district from 1959 to 1962, as a member of the Republican Party. He was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America and United States Junior Chamber.

Bains-Jordan was born in Hilo, Hawaii, and was educated at President Theodore Roosevelt High School. He later attended the Cannon School of Business and the University of Hawaiʻi. During the 1930s and 1940s, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and United States Junior Chamber. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the BSA, attended the first National Scout jamboree, and became a district committeeman in the organization. He served in many positions in the Honolulu Junior Chamber before becoming the organization's president. He was in leadership positions over two state fairs.

He entered politics his selection as vice-chair of the Fifth District of the Young Republicans of Hawaii in 1952, and served on the platform committee as the 1956 Hawaii Republican Party territorial convention. He was elected to the state house as the only Republican from the 10th district, but lost reelection in the 1962 election.

Early life

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William Harry Bains-Jordan was born in Hilo, Hawaii, on December 12, 1916, to Jack Bains and Jean Bains-Jordan. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1935, and attended the Cannon School of Business and the University of Hawaiʻi.[2][3] Samuel Wilder King, Hawaii's delegate to the United States House of Representatives, selected Bains-Jordan as an alternate candidate to an appointment to the United States Naval Academy.[3][4] He married Marjorie Helen Marques, with whom he had three children, on November 14, 1941.[1][5][2]

Career

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Organizations

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He was an Eagle Scout. Bains-Jordan attended the first National Scout jamboree alongside forty-seven other members of Boy Scout Troop 10.[6][2] He was selected to serve as chair of the 1938 Boy Scouts Makahiki by general chair Charles Crane.[7][2] He served as district committeeman of the Boy Scouts for two years.[2]

Bains-Jordan joined the Honolulu United States Junior Chamber in 1945, served as a director for multiple years, was selected to serve as treasurer in 1947, elected as second vice-president in 1948, and later became first vice-president. In 1951, he was selected to replace Arthur W. Campbell as president of the Junior Chamber.[8][9] He served as vice-chair of the 48th state fair and as chair of the 49th state fair.[2][10]

Bains-Jordan was selected as vice-chair of the Fifth District of the Young Republicans of Hawaii in 1952.[11] Bains-Jordan served on the platform committee at the 1956 Hawaii Republican Party territorial convention.[12]

Hawaii House of Representatives

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Elections

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Henry Haina, the chairman of the Young Republican Federation of Hawaii's candidates committee, listed Bains-Jordan as a possible candidate for a seat in the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 10th district alongside George Richardson, H.C. Penhallow, Daniel K. Kamalani, and Thomas Soga.[13] He filed to run for one of four seats in the 10th district as a Republican in 1959.[14] He was the Republican with the most support in the primary election and was the only Republican elected in the general election alongside Democratic nominees Larry Kuriyama, Donald Ching, and George M. Okano.[15][16]

On August 14, 1962, he announced that he would seek reelection instead of seeking election to the Hawaii Senate from the 5th district.[17] He was the Republican with the most support in the primary election, but lost in the general election becoming one of four incumbents in the state house to lose reelection with all being Republicans.[18][19]

Tenure

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Bains-Jordan was appointed to serve on the Accounts, Agriculture, Economic Development, Judiciary, and Tourism committees.[20][17] During his tenure he served as the chair of the committee that designed the Hawaii State Capitol during which he visited the state capitols of Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, and Texas.[2][21]

Later life

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Bains-Jordan was considered a possible successor to Arthur D. Woolaway after Woolaway stepped down as chair of the Hawaii Republican Party.[22] In 1963, he was elected to fill the vacancy on the Leeward Hospital board after the death of G.H. Webling and served as president of the board.[23] Bains-Jordan died in Madison, Alabama, on February 4, 2021.[2]

Electoral history

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1959 Hawaii House of Representatives 10th district primary[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Donald Ching (incumbent) 4,022 15.68%
Democratic George M. Okano (incumbent) 3,690 14.39%
Democratic Larry Kuriyama 3,183 12.41%
Democratic Alvin Shim 2,152 8.39%
Democratic El Ray D. Hegwood 2,080 8.11%
Republican William Bains-Jordan 1,784 6.96%
Democratic Carl J. Guntert 1,639 6.39%
Republican Andrew Lee 1,449 5.65%
Republican Daniel K. Kamalani 1,317 5.14%
Republican George E. Richardson 1,209 4.71%
Democratic Roger J. Endaub 1,202 4.69%
Republican Shizuo Onishi 864 3.37%
Republican Richard S. Oguro 531 2.07%
Republican Raymond Eblacas 525 2.05%
Total votes 25,647 100.00%
1959 Hawaii House of Representatives 10th district election[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Larry Kuriyama 7,362 17.39%
Democratic Donald Ching (incumbent) 6,709 15.84%
Democratic George M. Okano (incumbent) 6,623 15.64%
Republican William Bains-Jordan 5,510 13.01%
Democratic Alvin Shim 5,165 12.20%
Republican Andrew Lee 4,386 10.36%
Republican George E. Richardson 3,402 8.03%
Republican Daniel K. Kamalani 3,187 7.53%
Total votes 42,344 100.00%
1962 Hawaii House of Representatives 10th district primary[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Larry Kuriyama (incumbent) 6,894 18.50%
Democratic Donald Ching (incumbent) 6,500 17.44%
Democratic George Okano (incumbent) 6,440 17.28%
Democratic Philip P. Minn 5,543 14.87%
Republican William Bains-Jordan (incumbent) 3,106 8.33%
Republican Nolle R. Smith Jr. 2,503 6.72%
Democratic Raymond Eblacas 2,233 5.99%
Republican Douglas King 2,029 5.44%
Republican Carl R. Harding 2,020 5.42%
Total votes 37,268 100.00%

References

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  1. ^ a b "Son To Bains-Jordans". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. September 15, 1945. p. 4. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "William Bains-Jordan, first Aiea state legislator, dies at 104". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. February 22, 2021. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Former Hilo Boy Named As 3rd Alternate". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. December 21, 1935. p. 4. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "King Make Appointments To U.S. Naval Academy". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. December 22, 1935. p. 4. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Miss Marques Bride Of Fall". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. November 16, 1941. p. 24. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Hawaii Scouts Enjoy Selves In Camp Among Big Timber". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. August 10, 1937. p. 7. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Scouts Plan Show Here In February". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. November 16, 1937. p. 2. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "New Head of 49th State Fair Has Impressive JCC Background". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. July 27, 1950. p. 9. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Bains-Jordan Elected Head of Honolulu Jaycees". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. July 2, 1951. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Bains-Jordan to Head 1951 Fair". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. July 25, 1950. p. 16. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Young Republicans Map Plans; Bains-Jordan Named Officer". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. April 24, 1952. p. 12. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "150 Meet In 5th District GOP Caucus". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. June 13, 1956. p. 10. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Young G.O.P. Federation Complies Candidates' List". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. December 12, 1957. p. 31. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Filings". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 28, 1959. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "1959 Hawaii House of Representatives 10th district primary results". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. June 29, 1959. p. 4. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "1959 Hawaii House of Representatives 10th district election results". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. July 29, 1959. p. 4. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "GOP House member To Run Again". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. August 15, 1962. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b "1962 Hawaii House of Representatives 10th district primary results". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. October 8, 1962. p. 8. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "11 GOP, 4 Demo Incumbents Fail". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. November 8, 1962. p. 11. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "State House Officers, Committees Listed". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. September 4, 1959. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Islanders Visit Oregon Capitol". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. November 22, 1960. p. 9. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "McCullen Backed to Head Isle GOP". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 29, 1962. p. 18. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Bains-Jordan Heads Board of Hospital". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. April 26, 1963. p. 11. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.