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A. John Shimmon: 1923-

A. John Shimmon was born in San Francisco on May 12, 1923, his father was from the village of "Tekka Ardishai" and his mother from the village of "Sapurghan" in the Urmia district of Iran.
Following graduation from Polytechnic High School, he served in the United States Army (1942-1946) and was a member of the 168th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion and stationed in the Admiralty Islands, New Guinea and the Philippine Islands when he participated in its liberation on D-Day, October 20, 1944.

A Public Accountant, he earned a BA degree from San Francisco State in 1948.
In 1949, Mr. Shimmon began his career with the State Board of Equalization as Junior Accountant-Auditor; he later supervised field auditors working on business tax audits and in 1972, he was appointed Assistant to George R. Reilly, Board Member, State Board of Equalization. Mr. Shimmon retained this position until his promotion to Deputy in 1976.

As Deputy, Shimmon assisted in the administration of a district with nearly six million residents. Constituents who contact their representative regarding sales or other taxes administered by the Board of Equalization are often assisted by Mr. Shimmon, who also reviewed personnel and other supervisory matters for Mr. Reilly.

Mr. Shimmon is the only employee of the Board of Equalization ever to sit and vote as a Member of the Franchise Tax Board with the State Controller and Director of the Department of Finance , the two other Members of the Franchise Tax Board.

As Auditor, Supervising Auditor and Deputy to Board Member (an elected State Constitutional Officer), examined books and records, analyzed sales and purchase data to determine correct sales related to sales tax, supervised employees and dealt with public for 37 years. Mr. Shimmon currently is a Tax Consultant.

Member, The Calamari Club of San Francisco.
Past Commander, American Legion.
Past President, California Association of State Auditors.
Past President, the Godfathers Club of San Francisco.
Past Chairman, Tax Advisory Committe, Loyal Order of Moose.
Past Member, Elks and Native Sons of the Golden West.
Past Member, Democratic State Central Committee.
Past Charter Member, Business and Professional Caucus, California Democratic Party.
Past Treasurer and Elder in the First United Presbyterian Church of San Francisco.