Preceded by John T. Driscoll Party Democratic Party Role Politician | Name Robert Crane Political party Democratic Party Succeeded by Joe Malone | |
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Residence Wellesley, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||
Robert Quentin Crane (born March 21, 1926 in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American politician who served as Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts from 1965–1991. He is credited with starting the Massachusetts Lottery.
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Early life
He was born in 1926 in Providence, Rhode Island. He received his education at English High School of Boston and Boston College.
Career
A state legislator and chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, Crane was appointed state treasurer in 1964. He defeated Louise Day Hicks, John Francis Kennedy, and John J. Buckley for the Treasurer nomination in 1964. He went on to easily defeat Robert Hahn in the general election. In 1971 became the founding chairman of the Massachusetts State Lottery. The closest Crane came to losing his office was in 1974 when he defeated Charles Mark Furcolo, a Boston attorney and son of former governor John Foster Furcolo, 51%-49% in the Democratic primary. He retired from politics in 1991 amid accusations of patronage and nepotism.