John J. Gunther has served as General Counsel and Executive Director of the United States Conference of Mayors since 1958. Following service with the Army Air Corps during World War II, Gunther taught in the Political Science Department of the University of Kansas. He then served as Administrative Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Labor in Washington, and was a Legislative Assistant in the office of the late Senator Ralph E. Flanders of Vermont. After practicing law from 1947 to 1957, Gunther became General Counsel for the United States Conference of Mayors before being named to his present position.