Clarence Wilkinson
- July 12, 1996
- 85 years
About Clarence Wilkinson
Clarence Wilkinson, 85, American politician.
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Full Biography
|Clarence Sayward Wilkinson (born September 26, 1910 – July 12, 1996) was an American politician who served as Mayor of Beverly, Massachusetts, from 1951 to 1957, State Representative from 1957 to 1961, Town Manager of Saugus from 1968 to 1970, and Town Manager of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, from 1970 to 1975.
Career
Wilkinson was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He was elected Mayor of Beverly, Massachusetts in 1950 and re-elected in 1952, 1954, and 1956. During his tenure as Mayor, Beverly celebrated its 325th anniversary, hosted World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Rocky Marciano, hosted two Sports Car Club of America auto racing events, and built two new schools. Prior to becoming Mayor, Wilkinson spent four years as a member of the Beverly Board of Aldermen.
In 1953, Wilkinson was a candidate for State Representative, but lost in the Republican primary to Herbert Tuckerman.
In 1955, Wilkinson received a type-written letter containing a threat to kill him if he did not pay four million dollars. An investigation by Beverly police revealed that the letter was written by a fourteen-year-old boy at a junior high school.
Wilkinson was elected State Representative in 1956. He served as State Representative and Mayor simultaneously during his final year as Mayor. He was reelected in 1958, but lost the 1960 Republican primary to George L. Allen.
In 1962, Wilkinson was named Associate State Commissioner of Public Works.
In 1965, he made a return to elected office in Beverly as a member of the Board of Aldermen. In 1966, the town offered 207 acres of land abutting Beverly Municipal Airport to Boeing in attempt to convince them to build a proposed multimillion-dollar plant in Beverly. Wilkinson served as the town's liaison officer in the ultimately unsuccessful project. In 1967, Wilkinson ran again for Mayor, but finished third in the primary behind James A. Vitale and Herbert Grimes.
On October 14, 1968, he was named Town Manager of Saugus, Massachusetts. He had previously been a finalist for the job in 1962, but the Board of Selectmen decided to give the job to John O. Stinson. He resigned in 1970 to take the same position in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. He remained as Boothbay Harbor's Town Manager until his retirement in 1975.
He died on July 12, 1996, in Bremen, Maine.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Wilkinson
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Clarence Wilkinson's archived record and the sources above.
1.Where was Clarence Sayward Wilkinson born?
- A.Gloucester, Massachusettscorrect
- B.Saugus, Massachusetts
- C.Beverly, Massachusetts
- D.Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Clarence Sayward Wilkinson was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Source: Career section
2.What was the birth date of Clarence Sayward Wilkinson?
- A.November 26, 1910
- B.September 26, 1910correct
- C.October 14, 1910
- D.July 12, 1910
Clarence Sayward Wilkinson was born on September 26, 1910.
Source: Biographical summary
3.Which position did Clarence Sayward Wilkinson hold from 1951 to 1957?
- A.Mayor of Beverlycorrect
- B.Associate State Commissioner of Public Works
- C.Town Manager of Saugus
- D.State Representative
Clarence Sayward Wilkinson served as the Mayor of Beverly, Massachusetts, from 1951 to 1957.
Source: Biographical summary
4.Who defeated Clarence Sayward Wilkinson in the 1953 Republican primary for State Representative?
- A.George L. Allen
- B.Herbert Grimes
- C.Herbert Tuckermancorrect
- D.James A. Vitale
In 1953, Clarence Sayward Wilkinson was a candidate for State Representative but lost in the Republican primary to Herbert Tuckerman.
Source: Career section
5.What milestone did Beverly celebrate during Clarence Sayward Wilkinson's tenure as mayor?
- A.350th anniversary
- B.300th anniversary
- C.325th anniversarycorrect
- D.400th anniversary
During the tenure of Clarence Sayward Wilkinson as Mayor, Beverly celebrated its 325th anniversary.
Source: Career section
6.How much money did the extortionist demand from Clarence Sayward Wilkinson in 1955?
- A.Five hundred thousand dollars
- B.Two million dollars
- C.Four million dollarscorrect
- D.One million dollars
In 1955, Clarence Sayward Wilkinson received a threat to kill him if he did not pay four million dollars.
Source: Career section
7.Who was the person ultimately hired as Saugus Town Manager in 1962 instead of Clarence Sayward Wilkinson?
- A.James A. Vitale
- B.George L. Allen
- C.John O. Stinsoncorrect
- D.Herbert Grimes
Clarence Sayward Wilkinson was a finalist for the job in 1962, but the Board of Selectmen decided to give the position to John O. Stinson.
Source: Career section
8.What was the name of the company Clarence Sayward Wilkinson dealt with as a liaison officer regarding a proposed plant?
- A.Boeingcorrect
- B.Sports Car Club of America
- C.Beverly Municipal Airport
- D.Public Works Commission
Clarence Sayward Wilkinson served as the town's liaison officer in an attempt to convince Boeing to build a plant in Beverly.
Source: Career section
9.In what year did Clarence Sayward Wilkinson become the Associate State Commissioner of Public Works?
- A.1962correct
- B.1960
- C.1965
- D.1958
In 1962, Clarence Sayward Wilkinson was named Associate State Commissioner of Public Works.
Source: Career section
10.When did Clarence Sayward Wilkinson die?
- A.September 26, 1995
- B.October 14, 1996
- C.July 12, 1996correct
- D.July 12, 1990
Clarence Sayward Wilkinson died on July 12, 1996.
Source: Biographical summary
11.Which athlete did Clarence Sayward Wilkinson host in Beverly during his time as mayor?
- A.Rocky Marcianocorrect
- B.Jack Dempsey
- C.Muhammad Ali
- D.Joe Louis
Clarence Sayward Wilkinson hosted World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Rocky Marciano during his time as mayor.
Source: Career section
12.Where did Clarence Sayward Wilkinson die?
- A.Bremen, Mainecorrect
- B.Boothbay Harbor, Maine
- C.Saugus, Massachusetts
- D.Beverly, Massachusetts
Clarence Sayward Wilkinson died on July 12, 1996, in Bremen, Maine.
Source: Career section
13.What position did Clarence Sayward Wilkinson hold immediately after his time as Town Manager of Saugus?
- A.Town Manager of Boothbay Harborcorrect
- B.State Representative
- C.Associate State Commissioner of Public Works
- D.Mayor of Beverly
Clarence Sayward Wilkinson resigned from his Saugus position in 1970 to take the same position in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
Source: Career section
14.How many years did Clarence Sayward Wilkinson serve as a member of the Beverly Board of Aldermen before becoming mayor?
- A.Six years
- B.Four yearscorrect
- C.Three years
- D.Five years
Prior to becoming Mayor, Clarence Sayward Wilkinson spent four years as a member of the Beverly Board of Aldermen.
Source: Career section
15.Who finished ahead of Clarence Sayward Wilkinson in the 1967 mayoral primary?
- A.John O. Stinson and James A. Vitale
- B.George L. Allen and Herbert Grimes
- C.James A. Vitale and Herbert Grimescorrect
- D.Herbert Tuckerman and George L. Allen
In 1967, Clarence Sayward Wilkinson finished third in the primary behind James A. Vitale and Herbert Grimes.
Source: Career section
16.How many schools were built during the tenure of Clarence Sayward Wilkinson as Mayor of Beverly?
- A.Twocorrect
- B.Four
- C.One
- D.Three
During the tenure of Clarence Sayward Wilkinson, the city of Beverly built two new schools.
Source: Career section
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