John S. Fine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John S. Fine
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| 35th Governor of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 16, 1951 – January 18, 1955 |
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| Lieutenant | Lloyd Wood |
| Preceded by | James Duff |
| Succeeded by | George Leader |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Sydney Fine
April 10, 1893 Newport Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | May 21, 1978 (aged 85) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Helene Pennebecker Morgan (December 5, 1939–April 23, 1951; her death) |
| Children | Two sons |
| Alma mater | Dickinson School of Law |
| Profession | Attorney, Judge |
John Sydney Fine (April 10, 1893 – May 21, 1978) was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. A Republican, he served as the 35th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1951 to 1955.
Early life
Fine was born in Newport Township, Pennsylvania, one of nine children of Jacob W. and Margaret (née Croop) Fine. In 1895, the family moved to nearby Nanticoke, where Fine received his early education at local public schools. He milked cows and plowed fields on a coal company farm as a young boy, and he later reported on local community news for the Wilkes-Barre Record as a teenager.
After graduating from Nanticoke High School as valedictorian in 1911, Fine studied at the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, earning his law degree in 1914. He was admitted to practice law in Luzerne County (1914) and before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania (1915). He opened his own practice in Wilkes-Barre. From 1916 to 1920, he served as Republican chairman of the Fourth Legislative District of Luzerne County.
Military career
During World War I, Fine served with the 23rd US Army Engineers, reaching the rank of sergeant. In 1919, while he was stationed in Ireland, he took postgraduate studies at Trinity College of the University of Dublin. After his military service, he resumed his law practice and became a partner in the law firm Coughlin and Fine.
Personal life
In 1962, Fine was indicted for evading payment of $45,000 in taxes. The Newport Excavation Co. allegedly paid for improvements on his farm along with salaries to two of his farmhands considered taxable income.
Fine claimed ignorance to these issues and the Governor of Pennsylvania, David L. Lawrence, testified as a character witness in Federal Court on behalf of ex-Gov Fine. As a result, he was found not guilty.
After the verdict was read Mrs. Fine said she was "thrilled and elated no end".
