Ancestry of
John Spellman

18th Governor of Washington

John Dennis Spellman

View famous kin of John Dennis Spellman

• • 1st Generation
  • Ahnentafel No:
  • 1 
  • Father:
  • Sterling Bartholomew "Bart" Spellman 
  • Mother:
  • Lela A. Cushman   
  • Birth Date:
  • 29 Dec 1926 
  • Birth Location:
  • Seattle, King, Washington 
  • Christening Date:
  •  
  • Christening Location:
  •  
  • Death Date:
  • 16 Jan 2018 
  • Death Location:
  • Seattle, King, Washington 
  • Burial Date:
  •  
  • Burial Location:
  • Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, King, Washington 
  • Notes: 

  • 18th Governor of Washington

    John Spellman (1926-2018) was an American politician and attorney who served as the 18th Governor of the state of Washington from 1981 to 1985. Born in Seattle, Washington, Spellman attended Seattle University where he graduated as class valedictorian. He later earned a law degree from Georgetown University.

    After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Spellman worked as an attorney and was King County Commissioner from 1967 to 1969. He served for 12 years as King County Executive from 1969 to 1981. In 1981, he was elected as the Governor of Washington.

    After leaving office in 1985, Spellman returned to Seattle to resume practicing law. He also ran unsuccessfully for a position on the State Supreme Court. He died on January 16, 2018 at the age of 91.

• Sources for John Dennis Spellman

  • ¹ Federal Census, WA, King County, 1930, Seattle, E.D. 17-73, Sheet 32A, Image 44 of 48.
  • ² Gravestone image at FindAGrave.com, (accessed 04/02/2023).
  • ³ U.S., Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974, Death record for father Sterling B Spellman.
  • ⁴ Wikipedia, "John Spellman", (accessed 04/01/2023).