John J. Dunnigan

John J. Dunnigan (September 6, 1883 – December 1965) was an American architect, builder and politician from New York. He was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate from 1933 to 1938.

Life

He was a Democratic member of the New York State Senate from 1915 to 1920, sitting in the 138th, 139th, 140th, 141st, 142nd and 143rd New York State Legislatures.

In 1921, he contested the election of Republican George H. Taylor to the State Senate, and was seated on February 15 in the 144th New York State Legislature. He remained in the State Senate until 1944, sitting in the 145th, 146th, 147th, 148th, 149th, 150th, 151st, 152nd, 153rd, 154th, 155th, 156th, 157th, 158th, 159th, 160th, 161st, 162nd, 163rd and 164th New York State Legislatures; and was Minority Leader from 1931 to 1932, President pro tempore from 1933 to 1938, and again Minority Leader from 1939 to 1944. He was a delegate to the New York Convention to ratify the 21st Amendment in 1933.

He co-authored the Parimutuel betting law which legalized betting on horses at the racetracks, and banished the bookmakers from the tracks. It also gave the State a 5% share in the bets. He inaugurated the novelty by buying the first ticket at Jamaica Racetrack in April 1940.

His son James J. Dunnigan (1912–1983) was President of the Buffalo Raceway in Hamburg, NY from its establishment in 1942 until the 1960s.

Sources

• [1] Obit in NYT on December 12, 1965 (subscription required)
• [2] The inauguration of the new parimutuel betting, in TIME Magazine on April 29, 1940

New York State Senate
Preceded by John Davidson	New York State Senate 21st District 1915–1918	Succeeded by Henry G. Schackno
Preceded by George Cromwell	New York State Senate 23rd District 1919–1920	Succeeded by George H. Taylor
Preceded by George H. Taylor	New York State Senate 23rd District 1921–1944	Succeeded by Alexander A. Falk
Political offices
Preceded by Bernard Downing	Minority Leader in the New York State Senate 1931–1932	Succeeded by George R. Fearon
Preceded by George R. Fearon	President pro tempore of the New York State Senate 1933-1938	Succeeded by Perley A. Pitcher
Preceded by Perley A. Pitcher	Minority Leader in the New York State Senate 1939–1944	Succeeded by Elmer F. Quinn