Max Rafferty
Encyclopedia
Maxwell Lewis Rafferty (May 9, 1917, in New Orleans, Louisiana–June 13, 1982, in Alabama
) was an author, educator, and politician.
, before his family moved to California in 1931. He was one of two children, the other being the American actress and pin-up girl
Frances Rafferty
. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School
in 1933. Rafferty earned his bachelor of arts (1938), Master of Arts
(1949) and PhD (1955) from the University of California, Los Angeles
.
portion of San Bernardino County, California
, during World War II
From Trona, after World War II Rafferty went on to jobs as vice-principal, principal, and school superintendent in various California school districts. He was school superintendent at Saticoy, (1951–1955), Needles (1955–1961), and La Canada, a prosperous northeast Los Angeles suburb (1961–1962). In 1962, he was elected to the nonpartisan office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of California. He held this office for two terms, from 1963 to 1971, after which time he became the Dean of Education at Troy State University in Alabama.
Rafferty was the author of a number of books on educational philosophy, including Suffer, Little Children (1963), What They Are Doing to Your Children (1964), and Max Rafferty on Education (1968). His newspaper column, "Dr. Max Rafferty", was syndicated nationally. Rafferty was the conservative Republican
candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1968, having beaten Senator Thomas H. Kuchel, whom he had excoriated as a "liberal", in the Republican primary
. Rafferty was defeated in the general election by State Controller Alan Cranston
. After his defeat in the Senate race, Rafferty was defeated in 1970 for re-election as Superintendent of Public Instruction by Wilson C. Riles, a liberal African American.
into a pond near Troy, Alabama
. His papers were donated to the Special Collections Department of the University of Iowa
Libraries in Iowa City
.
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
) was an author, educator, and politician.
Early life
Rafferty spent most of his childhood in Sioux City, IowaSioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, before his family moved to California in 1931. He was one of two children, the other being the American actress and pin-up girl
Pin-up girl
A pin-up girl, also known as a pin-up model, is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as popular culture. Pin-ups are intended for informal display, e.g. meant to be "pinned-up" on a wall...
Frances Rafferty
Frances Rafferty
Frances Rafferty was an American actress, dancer, World War II pin-up girl and MGM contract star.-Early life:Frances Anne Rafferty was born in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Maxwell Lewis Rafftery, Snr...
. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School is the only major public high school in Beverly Hills, California. Beverly is part of the Beverly Hills Unified School District and located on on the west side of Beverly Hills, at the...
in 1933. Rafferty earned his bachelor of arts (1938), Master of Arts
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...
(1949) and PhD (1955) from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
.
Career
Rafferty's first job was as a teacher in the Trona Unified School District in the Mojave DesertMojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
portion of San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, during World War II
From Trona, after World War II Rafferty went on to jobs as vice-principal, principal, and school superintendent in various California school districts. He was school superintendent at Saticoy, (1951–1955), Needles (1955–1961), and La Canada, a prosperous northeast Los Angeles suburb (1961–1962). In 1962, he was elected to the nonpartisan office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of California. He held this office for two terms, from 1963 to 1971, after which time he became the Dean of Education at Troy State University in Alabama.
Rafferty was the author of a number of books on educational philosophy, including Suffer, Little Children (1963), What They Are Doing to Your Children (1964), and Max Rafferty on Education (1968). His newspaper column, "Dr. Max Rafferty", was syndicated nationally. Rafferty was the conservative Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1968, having beaten Senator Thomas H. Kuchel, whom he had excoriated as a "liberal", in the Republican primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Rafferty was defeated in the general election by State Controller Alan Cranston
Alan Cranston
Alan MacGregor Cranston was an American journalist and Democratic Senator from California.-Education:Cranston earned his high school diploma from the old Mountain View High School, where among other things, he was a track star...
. After his defeat in the Senate race, Rafferty was defeated in 1970 for re-election as Superintendent of Public Instruction by Wilson C. Riles, a liberal African American.
Death
Rafferty died at the age of 65 when his car plunged off an earthen damEmbankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
into a pond near Troy, Alabama
Troy, Alabama
Troy is a city in Pike County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,003. Troy experienced a growth spurt of over 4,000+ people since 2000. The city is the county seat of Pike County....
. His papers were donated to the Special Collections Department of the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
Libraries in Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
.