Henry J. Mello
{{short description|American businessman and politician from California}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Henry J. Mello
|image =
|alt =
|state_senate = California
|district = 15th
|term = December 7, 1992 - November 30, 1996
|predecessor = Rose Ann Vuich
|successor = Bruce McPherson
|state_senate1 = California
|district1 = 17th
|term1 = December 1, 1980 - November 30, 1992
|predecessor1 = Bob Nimmo
|successor1 = Don Rogers
|state_assembly2= California
|district2 = 28th
|term2 = December 6, 1976 - November 30, 1980
|predecessor2 = Frank Murphy, Jr.
|successor2 = Sam Farr
|birth_date = {{Birth date text|March 27, 1924}}
|birth_place = Watsonville, California, US
|death_date = {{Death-date and age|September 4, 2004|March 27, 1924}}
|death_place = Watsonville, California, US
|restingplace =
|restingplacecoordinates =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Helen Mello
|children = 4
|alma_mater =
|occupation = Politician, businessman in farming
|known_for = Mello-Roos
}}
Henry John Mello (March 27, 1924 – September 4, 2004) was an American politician from California. Mello was a member of the California State Senate known for the Community Facilities District Act, otherwise known as the Mello-Roos Act.{{Cite web| last = Lucas| first = Greg| title = Henry Mello -- former state senator / Democrat was known as classic retail politician| work = SFGate| accessdate = 2015-04-09| url = http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Henry-Mello-former-state-senator-Democrat-2726832.php}}
Early life
Mello was born in Watsonville, California, on March 27, 1924. His father was a Portuguese immigrant. Mello attended Watsonville High School and Hartnell College in Salinas, California.
Career
In 1940, Mello and his father started a farming business. Mello founded Mello Packing Company in 1948.
In 1966, Mello was elected to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.
Mello was elected to the California State Assembly from District 28 in 1976, and was re-elected in 1978. He was elected to the California State Senate from District 17 in 1980. Re-elected from that district in 1984 and 1988, he won one last term from the renumbered District 15 in 1992. Term limits enacted in 1990 forced Mello's retirement from the Senate in 1996.
Personal life
Mello's wife was Helen Annette (Burns) Mello. They had four sons, John Henry Mello, Stephen F. Mello, Michael Burns Mello and Timothy S. Mello.
On September 4, 2004, Mello died in Watsonville, California at the age of 80.{{cite web |URL=http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf0q2nb0k5/admin/#aspace_bd7094ffcfe1e688132a659aac4059d0 |title=Henry J. Mello Political Papers - Biography |website=cdlib.org |date=November 2003 |accessdate=March 11, 2020}}
Legacy
- Senator Henry J. Mello Highway.{{cite web |URL=https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2015/07/24/sen-henry-j-mello-highway-unveiled/ |title=Sen. Henry J. Mello Highway unveiled |website=santacruzsentinel.com |first=Samantha |last=Clark |date=July 24, 2015 |accessdate=March 11, 2020}}
- 1990 Henry J. Mello Foundation.{{cite web |URL=https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=MELL017 |title=Henry J. Mello Foundation |website=fconline.foundationcenter.org |accessdate=March 11, 2020}}
- Henry J. Mello Center, a concert performance hall in Watsonville, California.{{cite web |URL=https://cityofwatsonville.org/1831/Mello-Center |title=Henry J. Mello Center |website=cityofwatsonville.org |accessdate=March 11, 2020}}
See also
- Mello-Roos (with Mike Roos)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://votesmart.org/public-statement/66862/in-honor-of-henry-mello In Honor of Henry Mello at votesmart.org]
- [https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=148972 Mello, Henry J. at ourcampaigns.com]
- [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5826 Join California Henry Mello]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mello, Henry John}}
Category:Democratic Party California state senators
Category:Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly
Category:American people of Portuguese descent
Category:20th-century members of the California State Legislature