John Bass
Encyclopedia
John Bass was an American
boxer
, schoolteacher, school principal and Democratic
politician from St. Louis
, Missouri
who served in the Missouri State Senate from 1981-1991.
, and was successful enough as a boxer to win an athletic scholarship
to Lincoln University of Missouri, where he earned a B.S.
in business administration, and went on to earn an M.A.
in educational administration from Washington University
. He became a teacher at, and eventually principal of, Beaumont High School. He also became active in the Democratic Party, which was overwhelmingly dominant in St. Louis city politics.
by then-Mayor of St. Louis Alfonso J. Cervantes
. Bass, who gradually became alienated from Cervantes and closer to rival William Clay, Sr., won office as alderman
from the 20th ward
, first winning his seat in a special election. In 1973 Bass won the Democratic nomination for City Comptroller
of St. Louis, with a plurality over three other aldermen (all white).
He was elected to the Senate in a 1981 special election and won re-election twice, eventually resigning to take a staff post on a Congressional
committee headed by long-time political ally William Clay, Sr. This in turn freed up Bass' senate seat to be won by Clay's son, state representative William Clay, Jr., who was described by a potential rival as having the seat "sewn up" before the campaign began.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, schoolteacher, school principal and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
who served in the Missouri State Senate from 1981-1991.
Background
Bass was born in St. Louis on July 18, 1926. He graduated from Sumner High School, served in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and was successful enough as a boxer to win an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to Lincoln University of Missouri, where he earned a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in business administration, and went on to earn an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in educational administration from Washington University
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
. He became a teacher at, and eventually principal of, Beaumont High School. He also became active in the Democratic Party, which was overwhelmingly dominant in St. Louis city politics.
Public office
Bass was tapped to serve as St. Louis' city Director of WelfareWelfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
by then-Mayor of St. Louis Alfonso J. Cervantes
Alfonso J. Cervantes
Alfonso Juan Cervantes was the thirty-ninth Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, from 1965 to 1973.- Personal life and early political career :...
. Bass, who gradually became alienated from Cervantes and closer to rival William Clay, Sr., won office as alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
from the 20th ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
, first winning his seat in a special election. In 1973 Bass won the Democratic nomination for City Comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
of St. Louis, with a plurality over three other aldermen (all white).
He was elected to the Senate in a 1981 special election and won re-election twice, eventually resigning to take a staff post on a Congressional
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
committee headed by long-time political ally William Clay, Sr. This in turn freed up Bass' senate seat to be won by Clay's son, state representative William Clay, Jr., who was described by a potential rival as having the seat "sewn up" before the campaign began.