John Dempsey Hoblitzell Jr. (December 30, 1912 – January 6, 1962) was an American politician from

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

. He was a member of the Republican Party. Hoblitzell was born in

Parkersburg, West Virginia Parkersburg is a city in Wood County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. Located at the confluence of the Ohio River, Ohio and Little Kanawha River, Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's List of municipalities in West Virginia ...

. He graduated from

West Virginia University West Virginia University (WVU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Ins ...

in 1934. He was involved in insurance, real estate, construction, and banking businesses. He was active in community service and civic affairs, serving as the first president of the West Virginia

Junior Chamber of Commerce The United States Junior Chamber, also known as the Jaycees, JCs or JCI USA, is a leadership training service organization and civic organization for people between the ages of 18 and 40. It is a branch of Junior Chamber International (JCI). ...

(1939–1940). From 1942 to 1946 he served in the United States Naval Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant. He also served in several positions in education, including as a member board of governors of West Virginia University (1937–1944), a member of the Wood County School Board (1950–1956), a delegate to the White House Conference on Education (1954), president of the West Virginia School Boards Association (1954), and a member of the National Citizens Committee on Higher Education (1955). In addition, he was chairman of the Governor's West Virginia Commission on State and Local Finance (1954). In 1956 Hoblitzell made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

. On January 25, 1958, he was appointed to the

U.S. Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the ...

to fill the vacancy caused by the death of

Matthew M. Neely Matthew Mansfield Neely (November 9, 1874January 18, 1958) was an American Democratic politician from West Virginia. He is the only West Virginian to serve in both houses of the United States Congress and as the 21st governor of West Virginia. H ...

. Hoblitzell sought election later in 1958 to the last two years of the term, but was defeated by his Democratic opponent,

Jennings Randolph Jennings Randolph (March 8, 1902May 8, 1998) was an American politician from West Virginia. A Democrat, he was most notable for his service in the United States House of Representatives from 1933 to 1947 and the United States Senate from 1958 to ...

, and left office with his election loss on November 4, 1958. After leaving the Senate, he resumed his business interests. Hoblitzell died of a heart attack in

Clarksburg, West Virginia Clarksburg is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 16,039 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in West Virginia, tenth-most populous city ...

, in 1962 and was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery in his native Parkersburg.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoblitzell, John D. Jr. 1912 births 1962 deaths Businesspeople from West Virginia Politicians from Parkersburg, West Virginia Republican Party United States senators from West Virginia School board members in West Virginia West Virginia Republicans West Virginia University alumni 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century West Virginia politicians 20th-century United States senators