Bruce Sundlun

Bruce Sundlun
Name	Bruce Sundlun
Caption	Sundlun in 1991
Order	71st
Office	Governor of Rhode Island
Term start	January 1, 1991
Term end	January 3, 1995
Lieutenant	Roger N. Begin, Robert A. Weygand
Predecessor	Edward D. DiPrete
Successor	Lincoln Almond
Party	Democratic
Birth name	Bruce George Sundlun
Birth date	19 January 1920
Birth place	Providence, Rhode Island
Death date	21 July 2011
Death place	Jamestown, Rhode Island
Spouse	Virginia Gildersleeve (div.), Madeleine G. Mandler (div.), Marjorie K. Field (div.), K. Susan (div.)
Education	Williams College (BA), Harvard University (LLB)
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Serviceyears	1942–1945
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	384th Bombardment Group
Battles	World War II

Bruce Sundlun was an American politician, attorney, and businessman who served as the 71st Governor of Rhode Island from 1991 to 1995. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a decorated World War II pilot and a prominent figure in New England politics and business. His single term was dominated by his decisive handling of a major banking crisis and efforts to revitalize the state's economy.

Early life and education

Bruce George Sundlun was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to a family of Lithuanian Jewish descent. He attended Classical High School before enrolling at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1941, he entered Harvard Law School, but his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.

Military service and legal career

Sundlun enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces and served as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 384th Bombardment Group in the European Theater. After his aircraft was shot down over Belgium on his 13th mission, he evaded capture with the assistance of the Belgian Resistance and later received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Following the war, he returned to complete his Bachelor of Laws at Harvard University and began a successful legal career, later founding the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Sundlun & Weiner. He also became a major shareholder and executive in several businesses, including television station WJAR in Providence.

Political career

Sundlun's political involvement began with his service as a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention. He made several unsuccessful bids for office, including a run for the United States Senate in 1972 against incumbent Claiborne Pell and a campaign for Governor of Rhode Island in 1978, losing in the Democratic primary. He served as chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Regents and remained an influential figure within the Rhode Island Democratic Party.

Governorship of Rhode Island

Elected in 1990, Sundlun took office during the collapse of the Rhode Island Share and Deposit Indemnity Corporation (RISDIC), which triggered a severe banking crisis. On his first day, he closed 45 credit unions and banks insured by RISDIC, a drastic move that stabilized the state's financial system. His administration created the Rhode Island Depositors Economic Protection Corporation to manage the crisis and reimburse depositors. He also championed economic development initiatives, oversaw the expansion of T.F. Green Airport, and signed legislation establishing the Rhode Island Lottery. His tenure was marked by a contentious relationship with the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Later life and death

After leaving the Rhode Island State House, Sundlun returned to his business and legal interests. He taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island and remained active in veterans' affairs and civic organizations. He published his autobiography, The Making of a Man, in 2008. Sundlun died of heart failure at his home in Jamestown, Rhode Island, on July 21, 2011, and was interred at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence.

Legacy

Sundlun is most remembered for his swift and resolute action during the Rhode Island banking crisis, which is credited with preventing a total financial collapse in the state. His leadership during that period defined his governorship and left a lasting impact on Rhode Island's regulatory framework. His life story, from World War II hero to governor, remains a notable chapter in the political history of New England.

Category:1920 births Category:2011 deaths Category:Governors of Rhode Island Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Williams College alumni