John K. Tabor was born in Uniontown, Pa. on April 19, 1921 and grew up in Pittsburgh. After high school, Tabor attended Yale University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1942. From 1942 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Navy as Lieutenant in Command of a fleet minesweeper in the Pacific theater. In 1946, Tabor attended Cambridge University and received his M.A. in 1947. Tabor then attended Harvard Law School from 1947-1950. After graduation, he worked for the law firm of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts in New York City (1950-1953). He moved to Pittsburgh in 1953 and worked for the law firm of Kirkpatrick, Pomeroy, Lockhart & Johnson (1953-1963). In 1961, Tabor, a Republican in a Democrat city, ran for city council; he was unsuccessful. From 1962 to 1968, Tabor held various offices in Pennsylvania's Secretary of Commerce (1962-1966), Secretary of Internal Affairs (1966-1968), and Secretary of Labor and Industry (1968). In 1969, he was selected as the Republican candidate for Mayor of Pittsburgh; his opponent was Democratic councilman Peter F. Flaherty. Tabor ultimately lost the race as Flaherty won by a two-to-one margin.
From the description of Papers of John K. Tabor, 1969. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 30660963
