Louis John Papan (August 2, 1928 – April 28, 2007) was a
Democratic California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...
. He was known as the "
Dean
Dean may refer to:
People
* Dean (given name)
* Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin
* Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk
* Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean
Titles
* ...
of the Assembly" for his 20 years in the
California State Assembly.
Early life
The son of Greek immigrants, was named Elias Papandricopoulos ( el, Ηλίας Παναδρικόπουλος) but the doctor did not know how to spell Elias and thus he was named Luis Papan. Lou Papan spoke only
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
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**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
when he began elementary school.
He served as a Sergeant in the
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
and a First Lieutenant in the
U.S. Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...
during the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
.
[Full Biography for Lou J. Papan](_blank)
/ref> He received his BA in Economics
Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analyzes ...
in 1951 from Syracuse University in New York. After graduating from Syracuse, Papan was a Special Agent in the FBI in San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
and Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
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, coordinates =
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, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
. He became a real estate broker and general insurance agent in 1958 and co-founded the Peninsula Bank of Commerce in 1981.
Public office
In 1970, he was elected to the Daly City
Daly City () is the second most populous city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with population of 104,901 according to the 2020 census. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and immediately south of San Francisco (sharing its ...
Council. He was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1972, where he served until 1986. Papan served as Speaker Pro Tempore from 1974 to 1976, and chaired the powerful Assembly Rules Committee from 1976 to 1986. Instead of seeking reelection to an eighth term in the Assembly in 1986, Papan ran for the 8th State Senate
A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...
District seat but was defeated by independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
candidate Quentin L. Kopp.
After leaving office in 1986, Papan was succeeded by Jackie Speier and did not return to the Assembly until 1996 when Speier vacated the seat. Papan was re-elected in 1998 and 2000 with over 70% of the vote in his district. Papan was the Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.
In 2006, Papan again ran for the State Senate in the 8th District - but came in third place in the Democratic primary, losing to Leland Yee
Leland Yin Yee (, born November 20, 1948) is an American former politician who served as a member of the California State Senate for District 8, which covered parts of San Francisco and the Peninsula. In 2015, Yee pleaded guilty to felony racket ...
.
Family
Papan's wife of 42 years, Irene, died from cancer and lupus in 2000. They had a son name John, and two daughters Diane, and Virginia, who goes by Gina. Diane practices law in San Francisco, and Gina formerly worked as a Deputy Attorney General and now is the Deputy Director of the California Office of Criminal Justice Planning. In December 2015, Gina rejoined Millbrae
Millbrae is a city located in northern San Mateo County, California, United States. To its northeast is San Francisco International Airport, San Bruno is on its northwest, and Burlingame on its southeast. It is bordered by San Andreas Lake to ...
's city council after having served two terms starting in 2005, after being required to take a break of at least a two-years per the city's term limits. In that same month, December 2015, Diane joined the city council of nearby San Mateo, which was perhaps the first instance of siblings serving concurrently on two different city councils in San Mateo County
San Mateo County ( ), officially the County of San Mateo, is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 764,442. Redwood City is the county seat, and the third most populated city following Daly ...
.
In addition to serving as mayors and city council members, both sisters have also run for California State Assembly, Gina ran two unsuccessful campaigns for California's 19th State Assembly district
California's 19th State Assembly district is one of 80 California State Assembly districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Phil Ting of San Francisco.
District profile
The district encompasses the western, more residential parts o ...
in the early 2000s. This district was renumbered in 2011 and 2021, and in January 2022, Diane announced she would join the race for this district, which following the 2021 renumeration became California's 21st State Assembly district
California's 21st State Assembly district is one of 80 California State Assembly districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Adam Gray of Merced.
District profile
The district is located in the heart of the Central Valley, sandwiche ...
. Kevin Mullin
Kevin Mullin (born June 15, 1970) is an American politician who is the U.S. representative-elect from California's 15th congressional district, having been first elected in 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he has served as a member of ...
, son of Papan's successor as representative for California's 19th Assembly district, Gene Mullin, and incumbent in the same seat in 2022, announced that he would not seek reelection, and that he would join the race for California's 14th congressional district
California's 14th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, has represented the district since January 2023.
Currently, the 14th district is in Alameda County and includes ...
, after Jackie Speier—aforementioned successor and predecessor to Papan as representative for California's 19th Assembly district—announced she would not seek reelection in California's 14th district in November 2021.
Papan was nicknamed "Leadfoot Lou" for his fast commutes between Sacramento and his Peninsula home, trips that brought him a good share of speeding tickets. Few people knew he raced home to be with his son John, who suffered from a rare congenital condition that eventually ended his life at age 21 in 1981.
The family set up John's Closet—an organization that provides new clothes for needy children. Papan was well known as an advocate for disabled children.
Memorial tributes
*Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "Lou Papan was a dedicated public servant who devoted himself to improving the lives of all Californians. From Daly City Councilmember to chairman of the state Assembly Rules Committee, Lou's hard work and distinguished service is an inspiration to all. Maria and I offer our deepest condolences to Lou's family during this difficult time."
* Congressman Tom Lantos
Thomas Peter Lantos (born Tamás Péter Lantos; February 1, 1928 – February 11, 2008) was a Holocaust survivor and American politician who served as a U.S. representative from California from 1981 until his death in 2008. A member of the Demo ...
placed the following statement in the Congressional Record: "I rise with sadness today to share with my colleagues in the House news of the death of a California public servant from my home district. Lou Papan, known as the "Dean" of the California State Assembly, died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 28, 2007. He was 78 years old. Lou Papan was practically a force of nature in state and local politics."
*"He was an incredible guy," said Alex Tourk, who worked on his Assembly staff for four years. "He was one of those rare politicians who would advocate publicly what he believed privately."
*Known as "The Enforcer" for his ability to shepherd votes, Lou Papan's shadow was cast large in Sacramento, over both opponents and supporters.
Awards and honors
*Papan received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is an American award founded by the Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) (formerly known as the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO)), which is presented annually to American citizens, both native-born ...
in 1996. The award is given by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) to ethnic Americans who have made significant contributions to this country.
* The California State Legislature renamed a section of Highway 1, from the Daly City
Daly City () is the second most populous city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with population of 104,901 according to the 2020 census. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and immediately south of San Francisco (sharing its ...
border south through the City of Pacifica along the scenic coast, as the "Louis J. Papan Highway." He is given credit for successfully securing funding to purchase beachfront property in Pacifica for the State Parks system.
References
External links
Voter information
'' League of Women Voters''
Candidate biography
''JoinCalifornia''
''Sacramento Bee Newspaper''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Papan, Lou
1928 births
2007 deaths
Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly
American politicians of Greek descent
United States Army personnel of World War II
Syracuse University alumni
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents
People from Daly City, California
California city council members
20th-century American politicians
21st-century American politicians
United States Army non-commissioned officers
United States Air Force personnel of the Korean War
United States Air Force officers
Military personnel from California