John William Donahey (August 26, 1905 – March 2, 1967) was an American businessman, government official, and politician from Ohio. A Democrat, he was most notable for his service as the 53rd lieutenant governor of Ohio from 1959 to 1963. A native of New Philadelphia, Ohio and the son of Governor and U.S. Senator A. Victor Donahey, John Donahey attended Ohio State University and Cleveland College, and supplemented his education with professional development courses through the American Institute of Banking. During his father's governorship, Donahey served as a clerk in the governor's office. In 1930, he married Gertrude Walton, who served as a senior staff member for U.S. Senator Stephen M. Young and as Ohio State Treasurer. From 1933 to 1951, Donahey was employed as a loan examiner with the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. In 1952, Donahey was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senator. In 1954 and 1956, he ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer. In 1958, he was the successful Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor and he served from 1959 to 1963. In 1962, Donahey was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for state auditor. After leaving office, Donahey worked as the Small Business Administration's regional director for Ohio. Donahey died at Grant Hospital in Columbus, Ohio on March 5, 1967 after he suffered a heart attack while recovering from surgery. He was buried at East Avenue Cemetery in New Philadelphia. Early life Donahey was born in New Philadelphia, Ohio on August 26, 1905, a son of A. Victor Donahey and Mary (Harvey) Donahey. He was educated in the public schools of Columbus and New Philadelphia and was a 1926 graduate of New Philadelphia High School. As a teenager and young man, Donahey worked at a variety of temporary jobs, including an assembly line job at an Overland Automobile factory in Toledo, and crew member on a lighthouse tender that provided maintenance to facilities on the coast of Central America. After high school, Donahey attended Ohio State University and Cleveland College, the adult education campus of Western Reserve University. He later took professional development courses through the American Institute of Banking. Start of career During his father's term as governor, Donahey served as the commission clerk in the governor's office. He subsequently worked as a field supervisor for the Motorists’ Mutual Insurance Company of Columbus and the Donahey Insurance Agency. Donahey married Gertrude Walton in 1930. She was a longtime senior staff member