Percival "Percy" James Benbough (April 14, 1884 – November 4, 1942) was an American Republican politician from

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. Percy Benbough was born April 14, 1884 near

London, England London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, and came to

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

when he was four. At first he ran a grocery store and men's clothing store. His father was a mortician; after the elder Benbough died, Percy Benbough ran and expanded the business. Benbough was elected councilman and served during 1913–1917, where he was also superintendent of the fire department. He ran for

mayor of San Diego The mayor of the City of San Diego is the official head and chief executive officer of the U.S. city of San Diego, California. The mayor has the duty to enforce and execute the laws enacted by the San Diego City Council, the legislative branch. ...

in 1927 but lost. In 1931 he was appointed police chief, where he transferred people to break up cliques to help fight corruption then existing in the department. After only three months as chief he resigned, due to frustration in removing entrenched corruption. He was elected mayor in 1935 and reelected in 1939. One of his accomplishments as mayor was helping prepare the city for

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Benbough died November 4, 1942, the only San Diego mayor to die in office. He is entombed at Cypress View Mausoleum. He and his wife Grace Legler Benbough had two sons. She was born December 8, 1881, and died October 12, 1961, in San Diego. Their son Percy J., Jr., an avid sportsman, was killed in a plane crash on February 20, 1932 at age 25. Their other son, George Legler Benbough (1909-1998), a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II, took over the family's mortuary business in the 1930s and was usually known as "Legler." The San Diego Historical Society's ''Percy Benbough Award for Distinction in Government Leadership'' honors Benbough. The Grace Benbough Room of Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego honors his wife, and was made possible by their younger son's legacy, the Legler Benbough Foundation.

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:Don't let your money go to anyone who claims he can fix you at City Hall. We are going to get rid of the chiseler and the rat and we need your help. . . . If you insist on doing an illegal business—and mind you, I am not telling you it is all right—take your chances. . . . It will break you if you have to pay protection money and fines, too.

California Pacific International Exposition The California Pacific International Exposition was an exposition held in San Diego, California, during May 29, 1935–November 11, 1935 and February 12, 1936–September 9, 1936. The exposition was held in Balboa Park, San Diego's large ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benbough, Percy J. Mayors of San Diego 1884 births 1942 deaths California Republicans 20th-century mayors of places in California

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