William Francis Walsh
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 33rd district
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979
Preceded byHoward W. Robison
Succeeded byGary A. Lee
48th Mayor of Syracuse
In office
1961–1969
Preceded byDonald H. Mead
Succeeded byLee Alexander
Personal details
Born(1912-07-11)July 11, 1912
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 8, 2011(2011-01-08) (aged 98)
Marcellus, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Dorsey Walsh
Children7 (including James T. Walsh)
Alma materSt. Bonaventure University
University at Buffalo
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army Air Forces
Years of service1941–1946
RankCaptain
UnitUnited States Army Air Forces
Battles/warsWorld War II

William Francis Walsh (July 11, 1912 – January 8, 2011) was a Republican-Conservative member of the United States House of Representatives from New York State.[1][2]

Biography

Walsh was born in Syracuse, New York, to Irish immigrant parents.[1][3] He graduated from St. Bonaventure's College, now St. Bonaventure University, in 1934.[1] He received a master's degree in social work from the University at Buffalo in 1949,[1] and an honorary doctorate in civil law from St. Bonaventure University in 1970.[1] He served in the United States Army Air Forces from 1941 to 1946,[1] first as a private, and later being honorably discharged as a captain.[1]

Walsh worked in social services, including serving as a field representative for the New York State Commission Against Discrimination.[4] He was appointed Welfare Commissioner of Onondaga County in New York State in 1959.[1] He was elected mayor of Syracuse in 1961,[1] and served until 1969.[1] He became more nationally known by serving as Vice President of the US Conference of Mayors.[2] He was a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention.[1][2] He was elected to Congress in 1972,[1][2] and served from January 3, 1973, until January 3, 1979.[1][2]

Honors in memory

At St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York, the William F. Walsh Science Center was named in his honor in 2006 and dedicated in 2008.[5] The Center was built as a result of $10 million in federal monies[5] secured for its construction with the assistance of former United States Congress Member James T. Walsh,[1][5] William's son, who is also a Republican.[5]

Personal life

Walsh was married to Mary Dorsey Walsh,[2] and had seven children,[2] all of whom pursued careers in public service.[2] Walsh's children, Bill Walsh and Martha Hood Walsh are judges in Onondaga County,[2] and James T. Walsh served in Congress for twenty years.[2] His grandson Ben Walsh became Syracuse mayor in 2018.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Walsh, William Francis, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Washington, DC: US Congress, Undated, Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j William F. Walsh, former Syracuse mayor and congressman, dies at 98, The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Media Group, 8 January 2011, Weiner, M., Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  3. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/walsh.htm[user-generated source]
  4. ^ "At Leadership Session". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, NY. June 12, 1953. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d Congressman James T. Walsh: Technology Archived 2015-01-24 at the Wayback Machine, St. Bonaventure University Friedsam Memorial Library archives, St. Bonaventure, NY, Spring 2009, Barthomay, R., Retrieved 19 January 2014.

External links

Political offices Preceded byDonald H. Mead Mayor of Syracuse, NY 1961–1969 Succeeded byLee Alexander U.S. House of Representatives Preceded byHoward W. Robison Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 33rd congressional district 1973–1979 Succeeded byGary A. Lee Honorary titles Preceded byWilliam H. Avery Oldest living United States representative(Sitting or former) November 4, 2009 – January 8, 2011 Succeeded byPerkins Bass
New York's delegation(s) to the 93rd-95th United States Congress (ordered by seniority)
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