John W. Reynolds, Sr.

Who is John W. Reynolds, Sr.?

John Whitcome Reynolds, Sr. was Attorney General of Wisconsin from 1927 to 1933. He was elected as a Republican.

Reynolds was born in Jacksonport, in Door County, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin Law School. Reynolds was admitted to the bar in 1902. After becoming a lawyer, he working in Ashland, Wisconsin for a short time before setting up a practice in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which remained his home for the remainder of his life. Reynolds served as district attorney for Brown County from 1906 to 1910. He was a delegate to the 1924 Republican National Convention, supporting Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr. When La Follette ran as a Progressive in the general election that year, Reynolds was one of thirteen electors who voted for him.

Reynolds was elected attorney general in November 1926, and won re-election in 1928 and 1930.

His son, John W. Reynolds, Jr., also served as attorney general as well as governor.