Frank B. Zinn (December 24, 1920 – May 2, 2009)[1] was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as the 18th attorney general of New Mexico in 1959. From 1959 to 1975, he served as a judge of the New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court from 1959 to 1975.

Frank Zinn
Judge of the New Mexico District Court
for the 11th district
In office
1959–1975
Appointed byJohn Burroughs
18th Attorney General of New Mexico
In office
1959
Preceded byFred M. Standley
Succeeded byHilton A. Dickson Jr.
Personal details
Born
Frank Benjamin Zinn

December 24, 1920
Tucumcari, New Mexico, U.S.
DiedMay 2, 2009 (aged 88)
Michigan, U.S.
Resting placeSanta Fe National Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
RelationsA. L. Zinn (father)
EducationNew Mexico Military Institute (AS)
Military service
Branch/service United States Army
UnitNew Mexico National Guard
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life and education

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Zinn was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the son of A. L. Zinn, a justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. He attended high school and junior college at the New Mexico Military Institute.[2] He took classes at American University Washington College of Law until 1942.[3]

Career

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During World War II, Frank served in the United States Army. He later served in the New Mexico National Guard before retiring in 1981 as a lieutenant colonel. He moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1951 to serve as assistant to the Attorney General before entering private law practice with his father and brother, Dean, the following year.[3] Zinn was elected attorney general of New Mexico in 1958 and assumed office in 1959. He resigned in June 1960[3] after being appointed as a judge of the New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court by then-Governor John Burroughs. Zinn served as a judge until 1975 and later worked as a special master and arbitration judge on federal courts.[4]

Personal life

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Zinn was married to Anne Shaffer Zinn from 1950 until her death in 1999. After his wife's death, Zinn relocated to Michigan to be closer to his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Frank Benjamin Zinn (1920-2009) - Find a Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  2. ^ "Deceased Alumni 1921 - 1940". NMMI Alumni. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  3. ^ a b c Reeve, Frank D. (1961). History of New Mexico. Vol. 3. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. pp. 359–360.
  4. ^ Committee, United States Commission on Civil Rights New Mexico Advisory (1975). The Farmington Report: A Conflict of Cultures : a Report of the New Mexico Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
  5. ^ "Frank Zinn Obituary". obits.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.