James Rolph

James "Sunny Jim" Rolph Jr. was an American politician who served as the 27th governor of California. He was a member of the Republican Party and held the position from January 6, 1931, until he passed away on June 2, 1934. His time as governor happened during a very difficult period called the Great Depression.

Before becoming governor, Rolph was the 30th mayor of San Francisco from January 8, 1912, until he stepped down in 1931 to take the role of governor. He is known for being the longest-serving mayor in San Francisco's history. Rolph was often called "Sunny Jim" because of his cheerful and positive attitude.

Life and career

James Rolph, also called "Sunny Jim," was born in San Francisco. He was one of six children in his family. After finishing school in the Mission District, he started working in an office. He later married Annie Marshall Reid, and they had a son named James Rolph III.

Rolph began his career in shipping in 1900. He also became president of two banks. He became the mayor of San Francisco in 1911 and served for nineteen years. People liked him, and he was known for his cheerful personality. He even appeared in a few old movies. In addition to being mayor, he worked with many important groups in the city. In 1931, he left his job as mayor to become the governor of California.

Death

James Rolph passed away from heart problems on June 2, 1934, while he was still serving as governor. He was the second governor of California to die while in office. Rolph is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma, California. Lieutenant Governor Frank Merriam took over as governor after his death.

Main article: Washington Bartlett Main article: Greenlawn Memorial Park Main article: Colma, California Main article: Frank Merriam

Legacy

After James Rolph Jr. passed away, a group in California decided to name the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in his honor as a way to remember him.

Later, in 1993, some experts ranked him as one of the better mayors of big American cities from the years 1820 to 1993.
Main article: List of mayors of Chicago