Oswald David Heck[1] (February 13, 1902 – May 21, 1959) was an American lawyer and politician. To date he has been the longest-serving Speaker of the New York State Assembly, and he was the last Speaker from Upstate New York.

Life

He was born on February 13, 1902, in Schenectady, New York. In 1933, he married Beulah W. Slocum.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939–40, 1941–42, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1957–58 and 1959; and was Majority Leader in 1936, and Speaker from 1937 until his death in 1959.

He was a delegate to the 1944, 1948, 1952 and 1956 Republican National Conventions.

He died on May 21, 1959, in Schenectady, New York, of a heart attack; and was buried at the Vale Cemetery there.

His 21-year-old son Peter Heck died on July 17, 1960, in Glens Falls Hospital, in Glens Falls, New York, after a car accident.[2]

His daughter Penelope Heck Crannell died February 3, 1979, at St. Clares Hospital in Schenectady, NY of liver cancer.

References

  1. ^ The Garnet of Union College, Schenectady, New York. Vol. LXVIII. Albany, New York: Frank H. Evory & Co. 1922. p. 103.
  2. ^ HECK YOUTH IS KILLED in the New York Times on July 18, 1960 (subscription required)

Sources

New York State Assembly Preceded byCharles W. Merriam New York State Assembly Schenectady County, 1st District 1932–1944 Succeeded bydistrict abolished Preceded bynew district New York State Assembly Schenectady County 1945–1959 Succeeded byJoseph F. Egan Political offices Preceded byJohn F. Killgrew Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly 1936 Succeeded byIrving M. Ives Preceded byIrving M. Ives Speaker of the New York State Assembly 1937–1959 Succeeded byJoseph F. Carlino
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