John G. Hutchinson obit

 

Former Charleston Mayor John Hutchinson dies at age 89

He was not on the list.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — John Hutchinson, one of the most successful mayors in the history of Charleston, died Friday. He was 89. Hutchinson, a Democrat, was able to win three terms in office in the 1970s. His accomplishments make up a long list like improvements to the Charleston Civic Center, including the construction of the Civic Center Coliseum. He also led the effort to create an area where the Charleston Town Center Mall would be constructed.

Hutchinson also oversaw the construction of community centers and parking garages.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Charleston Mayor John G. Hutchinson whose remarkable service, as the youngest Mayor in our City’s history, left an indelible mark on our community,” current Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said in a statement. “His long-term vision has had lasting impacts and continues to influence our community many years later – whether you’re catching a show at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center or visiting one of our community centers. As we honor his memory and legacy, we extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Mayor Hutchinson’s loved ones.”

Hutchinson, who died in Atlanta where he lived in an assisted living facility, was first elected in 1971 when he was only 36. He won reelection in 1975 and again in 1979. In March 1980 he won a special election to fill West Virginia’s Third District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives following the death of Rep. John Slack. Hutchinson lost the fall election for the seat to Republican Mick Staton.

Hutchinson worked in financial services for several years after leaving the political arena.

When longtime Congressman and fellow Democrat John M. Slack Jr. died in office on March 17, 1980, Hutchinson won the special election for the balance of Slack'a 12th term. His short tenure began on June 30, 1980, and ended on January 3, 1981.

Hutchinson was defeated for his bid for his own full term by Republican nominee Mick Staton. However, Staton himself served only one term before being defeated by Democrat Bob Wise. This brought about a very rare situation in the U.S. House, where three men represented the same district within a three-year period, from 1980 to 1983. This was especially rare for West Virginia, which typically gives its congressmen very long tenures in Washington. In sharp contrast, the last of those men, Wise, went on to serve for nine terms before becoming governor in 2001.

He graduated from West Virginia University in Morgantown in 1956. Before entering politics, he served from 1956 to 1958 in the United States Air Force, and rose to rank of first lieutenant.