John F. Byrne Sr.
John F. Byrne Sr. (February 21, 1911 - August 6, 1965) was a Democratic politician from Philadelphia.
Byrne was born in Philadelphia and attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School and received a business degree from La Salle College.[1] A real estate and insurance broker, he was a business partner and friend of William J. Green Jr., a Philadelphia congressman and Democratic party leader.[2][3] In 1950, Byrne was elected to the Pennsylvania state senate.[3] The following year, he ran for a seat on the Philadelphia City Council against incumbent Clarence K. Crossan. Byrne won the election, representing Northeast Philadelphia's 10th district, as the Democrats took control of the city government for the first time in 67 years.[2]
He was re-elected to city council in 1955, this time winning one of five at-large seats.[4] The following year, Byrne resigned his seat when Governor George M. Leader appointed him to a seat on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.[3] In 1963, he and fellow Councilman Victor E. Moore were indicted for perjury during a grand jury investigation of city government, but were both acquitted.[5] His term on the Turnpike Commission expired in June 1965; he was still serving until a successor was appointed when he died of a heart attack that August.[5] His son, John Jr., later served in the state senate.
References
Sources
- "Woman Elected to First Seat in City Council". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 7, 1951.
- "Dallas Loses by 457, Party's Lone Casualty". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 9, 1955.
- "John F. Byrne Dies; Democrat Leader, 54". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 7, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "John Byrne Dies at 54". The Morning Herald. Uniontown, Pennsylvania. August 7, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Heart Attack Fatal to John Byrne, Pike Commissioner". The Daily Courier. Connellsville, Pennsylvania. August 7, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.