A. Ronald Button

Albert Ronald Button (August 29, 1903 – January 31, 1987) was an American attorney and politician who served as California state treasurer from 1956 to 1959.

A. Ronald Button
23rd Treasurer of California
In office 1956–1959
Governor	Goodwin Knight
Preceded by	Charles G. Johnson
Succeeded by	Bert A. Betts
Personal details
Born	August 29, 1903 Plainview, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	January 31, 1987 (aged 83) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Gladys McConnell ​ (m. 1931)​
Children	1
Education	Stanford University (BA) Harvard University (LLB)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Unit	Army Signal Corps
Battles/wars	World War II

Early life and education

Button was born in Plainview, Nebraska and graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Law School.

Career

In 1928, he began to practice in Hollywood, where he had a number of celebrity clients, including Hedy Lamarr and Thelma Todd. He specialized in corporate and business law. During World War II, he was a major in the Army Signal Corps motion picture division, spending much of his duty time at Hal Roach Studios with actor Ronald Reagan.

Button was Republican State Central Committee chairman in 1953, when he was selected for the Republican National Committee in which he remained for three years. On November 1, 1956, California Governor Goodwin Knight appointed him state treasurer, succeeding Charles G. Johnson, who retired after 34 years in office amid a dispute with Knight and allegations of funneling state funds for personal use.

After he left state government in 1959, Button was a key developer of Rancho Mirage near Palm Springs.

At the 1964 California Republican Assembly Convention, Button, alongside Edward S. Shattuck and G. Harvey Mydland, headed the liberal Rockefeller delegation.

Personal life

In September 1931, he married actress Gladys McConnell, and they had a daughter.

See also

• Glenn E. Coolidge