Preceded by Abraham Wilkins Preceded by Elliott Smelders Preceded by Paul J. Upton | Succeeded by Position abolished Succeeded by Alaster Smith Party Democratic Party | |
Deputy Morgan Fusk, Paul J. Upton Died 27 September 1975, Miami, Florida, United States | ||
John Maloney Spottswood (June 17, 1920 – September 27, 1975) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the senior Florida State Senator from the 41st district, in office from 1963-1971.
Biography
Spottswood was born and raised in Key West, Florida where he was educated in the Monroe County Public School System and later Riverside Military Academy. His father, Robert F. Spottswood, served as colonel in the United States Army and was a direct descendent of Alexander Spotswood, the first Colonial Governor of Virginia. In 1941, John enlisted in the United States Army for World War II in the Philippines (Pacific Theatre). Afterwards, he moved back to Key West and established the first radio station there, WKWF in 1944, and became friends with President Harry S. Truman who was a frequent visitor of the island. He also established cable television in Monroe County and assisted its spread nationwide. Spottswood married Mary Myrtle Sellers in 1949 and they went on to have five children. He was a film producer in the 1950's and 60's and worked with Warner Brothers in a documentary on John F. Kennedy's military service in the Solomon Islands and his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis which he received an award for. He was elected Sheriff for Monroe County in 1952 and established the first Youth Police Training Ranch in the country. Spottswood was a licensed realtor and hotelier who owned his own real estate company Spottswood and Sons which bought the La Concha and Casa Marina Hotels and still exists today as Spottswood, Spottswood, and Spottswood. Furthermore, he served as President of the Florida Association of Realtors from 1961 until his death and modernized real estate in Florida. In 1962, he was elected Florida State Senator from the 41st district and held that position for four terms. Afterwards, he moved to Miami, Florida where he died from a Cardiac Arrest at the age of 55 in 1975. He is currently buried at the Key West Cemetery.