John Kevin "K. J." Callahan (November 17, 1896 – July 26, 1985) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Marquette County, Wisconsin. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1931 to 1935, then served 28 years as county judge of Marquette County, retiring in 1966.[1]
Biography
K. J. Callahan was born in Montello, Wisconsin, in November 1896. He graduated from Montbello High School in 1914 and went on to attend Oshkosh State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh), where he graduated in 1918. He went on to the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduated in 1924. Later that year, he was elected district attorney of Marquette County, and served six years, leaving office when he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1930.[2]
Running as an Independent Republican, he defeated Democrat John A. Cadigan in the 1930 election. He was re-elected in 1932, defeating Democrat H. F. Fredericks.
He returned to elected office in January 1938, after being elected county judge of Marquette County. He served as county judge for the next 28 years, retiring November 30, 1966. He remained a reserve judge for another 17 years after his retirement until finally ending his service in 1983.
He died at Divine Savior Hospital in Portage, Wisconsin, on the morning of July 26, 1985.[2]
