Samuel Cullan
Samuel Cullan | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 49th district | |
| In office January 5, 1977 – November 1, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Leslie Stull |
| Succeeded by | Sandra K. Scofield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 20, 1954 |
| Party | Independent (1976–1980) Republican (1972–1976, 1980–present) |
| Education | United States Merchant Marine Academy (B.S.) Creighton University School of Law (J.D.) Creighton University School of Medicine (M.D.) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Samuel K. Cullan (born June 20, 1954) is an American politician and attorney from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 49th district from 1977 to 1983. He was initially an independent but joined the Republican Party in 1980.
Early life
[edit]Cullan was born in Hemingford, Nebraska, in 1954.[1] He grew up in Hemingford, and attended St. Agnes Academy in Alliance and graduated from Hemingford High School in 1972.[1] Cullan was nominated for the United States Merchant Marine Academy by Senator Carl Curtis,[2] and enrolled later that year.[3] Cullan graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy in 1976.[1]
Nebraska Legislature
[edit]In 1976, State Senator Leslie Stull, who represented the western Nebraska-based 49th district, ran for re-election to a third term,[4] Cullan, a senior at the Merchant Marine Academy at the time, announced that he would challenge Stull for re-election.[5] Cullan, who had originally registered to vote as a Republican, switched his party registration to independent prior to challenging Stull.[6] Cullan campaigned little in the district prior to his graduation,[7] and Stull placed first in the primary election by a wide margin, winning 63 percent of the vote to Cullen's 37 percent.[8] In the general election, Cullan waged a "massive advertising and door-to-door campaign" against Stull,[9] and ultimately defeated Stull in a "surprise upset," winning 53 percent of the vote to Stull's 47 percent.[8][10]
During Cullen's first term in the legislature, he enrolled as a law student at the Creighton University School of Law in the fall of 1979.[11] He switched to the Republican Party in 1980, characterizing himself as a moderate-conservative, and noting that, because "Nebraska is a two-party state," if he was "involved in the Legislature, I have to function in the system."[6] Cullan ran for re-election in 1980,[11] and was re-elected unopposed.[12][13]
He graduated from law school in 1982, and was sworn in as an attorney by Chief Justice Norman Krivosha of the Nebraska Supreme Court on September 17, 1982.[14] He joined his brothers, Dave and Dan Cullan, in their legal practice.[15] On August 11, 1983, Cullan announced that he would resign from the legislature, effective November 1, to attend the Creighton University School of Medicine.[16][17]
Post-legislative career
[edit]Cullan graduated from medical school in 1987, and practices as an attorney.[15]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Nebraska Blue Book 1982-1983 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1983. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Curtis Tells Nominations To Academies". Lincoln Star. February 4, 1972. p. 6. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Seven From Area Enter U.S. Military Service". Alliance Times-Herald. October 13, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Stull Will Seek His Third Term". Omaha World-Herald. January 1, 1976. p. 8. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Cullan To Challenge Stull's Ucam Seat". Alliance Times-Herald. March 13, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Kotok, C. David (April 11, 1980). "Cullan Switch Adds One for GOP". Omaha World-Herald. p. 10. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Reagan won, Church upset Carter". The Ledger. Hemingford, Nebraska. May 13, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Beermann, Allen J. (1976). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 11, 1976, General Election, November 2, 1976 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
- ↑ "State senator-elect, 22, world traveler". Lincoln Star. November 5, 1976. p. 8. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Reno, Russ (November 3, 1976). "Few Surprises In Box Butte Voting". Alliance Times-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 McClanahan, A.J. (January 20, 1980). "SAM CULLAN: Senator, Law Student, Farmer". Sunday World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. p. 3-A. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Kotok, C. David (March 18, 1980). "Veteran Senators Are Holding Edge". Omaha World-Herald. p. 4. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Beermann, Allen J. (1980). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 13, 1980, General Election, November 4, 1980 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Cullan sworn in". Star-Herald. Scottsbluff, Nebraska. October 10, 1982. p. 13. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Sam Cullan, M.D., J.D." Cullan & Cullan. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Senator Cullan: Resigning for medical career". The Ledger. Hemingford, Nebraska. August 11, 1983. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ O'Donnell, Patrick J., ed. (1984). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Eighty-Eighth Legislature, Second Session (PDF). p. 56. Retrieved April 26, 2026.