Dow Hover

Who was Dow Hover?

Dow B. Hover was the last person to serve as a State Electrician for the state of New York, who operated the electric chair and the last person to serve as an executioner in the now no-death penalty state. He was the last surviving executioner from New York.

Hover, a native and lifelong resident of Germantown, worked as a deputy sheriff for Columbia County.

When on August 5, 1953 a longtime state electrician Joseph Francel left his post after 14 years on service, Hover was hired to replace him, securing the job through his contacts at the Columbia County sheriff's office. He was 52-years old at that time and, like five of his predecessors, was a trained electrician. In addition to his work as a deputy sheriff, Hover would earn $150 every time he put on a suit, made the 160-mile round-trip to Sing Sing, and pulled the switch for the electric chair. Hover would also receive gas money, usually eight cents per mile.

Unlike his predecessor, whose name regularly appeared in the media, Hover kept his second job a secret. On the nights he drove to Sing Sing to carry out an execution, he changed the license plates on his car before he even left his garage. Hover was a well-known citizen of Germantown, because of his primary position.