M. William Bray
From the 1935 edition of the New York Red Book
Lieutenant Governor of New York
In office
1933–1938
Preceded byHerbert H. Lehman
Succeeded byCharles Poletti
Member of the New York State Building Code Commission
In office
1955–1959
Preceded byRalph A. Lehr
Succeeded byNone (commission abolished)
President of the New York State Bar Association
In office
1950–1951
Preceded byOtis T. Bradley
Succeeded byArthur V. D. Chamberlain
Member of the New York Public Service Commission
In office
1942–1945
Preceded byGeorge R. Lunn
Succeeded byHoward B. Donaldson
Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee
In office
1928–1930
Preceded byEdwin Corning
Succeeded byJames A. Farley
Personal details
Born
Michael William Bray

(1889-10-25)October 25, 1889
Churubusco, New York
DiedJanuary 17, 1961(1961-01-17) (aged 71)
Utica, New York
Resting placeSaint Patrick Cemetery, Chateaugay, New York
SpouseCatherine Claire Coleman (m. 1948)
EducationUnion College
Albany Law School
OccupationAttorney

Michael William Bray (September 25, 1889 – January 17, 1961) was an American lawyer and politician. He was the lieutenant governor of New York from 1933 to 1938.

Biography

Bray was born in Churubusco, New York on September 25, 1889, the son of John Bray and Hannah (Fahey) Bray.[1] He graduated from Union College in 1911,[2] and from Albany Law School in 1913.[3] He commenced practice in Utica, New York.

In 1924, he became Chairman of the Oneida County Democratic Committee,[1] and he was Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee from 1928 to 1930. He was a delegate to the 1928, 1932, 1940 and 1948 Democratic National Conventions.

In 1932 Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, former Governor Al Smith and state Democratic Party chairman James A. Farley backed the nomination of Herbert H. Lehman for governor, over the opposition of Tammany Hall and its allies. Lehman won, and as a peace offering Farley permitted Tammany to choose the candidate for lieutenant governor. Bray was nominated, and won the general election, defeating Republican F. Trubee Davison. (Prior to 1954 the governor and lieutenant governor of New York were elected separately. Each party's candidates for governor and lieutenant governor now run separately in the primary election, and on a single ballot in the general election.)

Lehman and Bray were renominated and reelected in 1934 as he defeated Fred J. Douglas. They won again in 1936, and Bray defeated Ralph K. Robertson. In 1938 Bray was replaced as the lieutenant governor nominee by Charles Poletti, who had been Lehman's counsel and a Justice of the New York Supreme Court.[4] Before Governor Lehman left office in 1942, he appointed Bray to the New York Public Service Commission, and he served until 1945.[4]

In January 1948 Bray was confined to his bed by a heart condition when he was severely injured in a house fire. His death appeared imminent, and a priest administered the last rites.[5] Bray suffered severe burns to his face, arms, and torso, and his right forearm was amputated,[6] but he recovered and left the hospital in March.[7] In November 1948 Bray wed Catherine Claire Coleman of New York City,[8] who survived him.[9]

Bray later served as bankruptcy trustee for the company that operated public buses in Schenectady, and he was President of the New York State Bar Association in 1950.[10][11] In 1955, Bray was appointed to a 10-year term on the State Building Commission.[4]

He died at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Utica, New York on January 17, 1961.[12] He was buried at Saint Patrick Cemetery in Chateaugay, New York.[13]

1932 New York State Democratic Ticket

1934 New York State Democratic Ticket

1936 New York State Democratic Ticket

References

  1. ^ a b History of the Mohawk Valley, Gateway to the West, 1614-1925. Vol. III. Chicago, IL: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. 1925. pp. 71–72 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Mosher, Clinton L. (September 12, 1928). "Bray faces Task of Selling Tammany Man to Up-Staters in Party Governorship Fight". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 24.
  3. ^ "Local Items: M. William Bray". Chateaugay Record and Franklin County Democrat. July 25, 1913. p. 1.
  4. ^ a b c Meddoff, Jack (August 25, 1955). "Harriman Passes Up Local Democrats for Building-Code Job". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, NY. p. 45 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Former Lt. Gov. Bray Found Unconscious In Bed Fire at Home; Given Last Rites of Catholic Church" (PDF). Rome Sentinel. Rome, NY. January 12, 1948. p. 3.
  6. ^ Associated Press (January 21, 1948). "Ex-Lt. Governor Improves". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Saranac Lake, NY. p. 2.
  7. ^ Associated Press (March 27, 1948). "Hospital releases Bray, Fire Victim". Post-Standard. Syracuse, NY. p. 3.
  8. ^ "Miss Coleman Wed to M. William Bray". New York Times. New York, NY. November 28, 1948.
  9. ^ "M. William Bray, Twice Lt. Gov. of NY". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). Melville, NY. Associated Press. January 19, 1961. p. 35C – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Bus Service In Schenectady At Standstill Today". The Times Record. Troy, NY. July 19, 1950. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Bray to Head Bar Association". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, NY. Associated Press. December 2, 1950. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Obituary, M. William Bray". Daily News. New York, NY. Associated Press. January 18, 1961. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Ranieri, Joyce M.; Powell, Flossy (2007). "St. Patrick's Cemetery, Section 8, Chateaugay, Franklin County, New York". NNY Tombstone Project.net. Brushton, NY: Northern New York Tombstone Transcription Project. Retrieved April 14, 2023.

Further reading

Party political offices Preceded byEdwin Corning New York State Democratic Committee Chairman August 1928 – 1930 Succeeded byJames A. Farley Political offices Preceded byHerbert H. Lehman Lieutenant Governor of New York 1933–1938 Succeeded byCharles Poletti
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