August P. Mardesich

August Paul Mardesich (February 11, 1920 – February 8, 2016) was an American politician in the state of Washington.

Early life Mardesich was born in San Pedro, California, to Nicola "Nick" and Mary (née Felando) Mardesich, two Croatian immigrants. His father was an avid fisherman, originating from the island of Vis. After the family relocated to Everett, Washington, in 1928, Mardesich attended schooling in that same city, and later Seattle University, along with his brother, Tony. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Mardesich attended the University of Washington Law School, graduating in 1948 and admitted to the bar. The following year, when the Mardesich family was on a fishing trip to the Bering Sea, their boat capsized, and amongst five crew members, his father, and brother Tony, who had recently been elected to the Washington House of Representatives, were lost at sea. August Mardesich survived the ordeal and would later be appointed to fill his brother's unfilled House term. He served as majority leader in the 1950s, during his third term. In 1962, he ran for election to the Washington State Senate for the same district, on the premise of the four-year terms that it offered, rather than the two-year terms that the house offered. He would later attempt to win re-election to his old senate seat held by Larry Vognild, but was defeated in the primary. Mardesich died on February 8, 2016, in Mill Creek, Washington.