Earl Brydges

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Earl W. Brydges
William Bewley
Succeeded byGeorge T. Manning
Personal details
Born
Earl William Brydges

(1905-05-25)May 25, 1905
Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 30, 1975(1975-03-30) (aged 69)
Lewiston, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEleanor C. Mahoney
Children7
Alma materNiagara University
University at Buffalo Law School

Earl William Brydges (May 25, 1905 – March 30, 1975) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Temporary President and Majority Leader of the State Senate from 1966 to 1972.[1]

Early life

Earl William Brydges was born on May 25, 1905, in

board of trustees. He was admitted to the bar in 1927.[1]

Career

Brydges served on the

Board of Education in Wilson, New York, during the 1940s. He also was active in educational advocacy organizations in Western New York.[1]

He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1949 to 1972, sitting in the 167th, 168th, 169th, 170th, 171st, 172nd, 173rd, 174th, 175th, 176th, 177th, 178th and 179th New York State Legislatures.[1]

For the majority of his Senate career, Brydges focused mainly on educational policy and mental health issues. His focus within the area of mental health was on improving services for the mentally retarded and special education students. His education policy focus was on K-12 education policy statewide.[2] Brydges served as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Mental Health.[1]

Senate Majority Leader

In 1965, when the Republican Party lost the majority in the State Senate for the only time since 1939, Brydges was elected Minority Leader of the Senate.

New York State Constitutional Convention of 1967.[1]

As Majority Leader, Brydges worked closely with Gov.

Seneca Niagara Casino on January 1, 2003.[1]

Brydges was a fierce opponent of reproductive rights and blocked legislation to legalize abortion in New York. In 1970, Brydges allowed the Senate to vote on legislation to legalize abortion. He did so under the belief the Senate would not pass the bill. When the Senate surprised him and passed the bill, which had already passed the Assembly and had the support of Governor Rockefeller, Brydges reportedly sat in his Senate chair and wept.[1][5]

Acting Governor of New York

Malcolm Wilson left the state on the same afternoon. Under the state constitution, this made Brydges the Acting Governor of New York for several hours. As acting governor, Brydges signed routine state paperwork and conducted Senate business. He did not sign any legislation into law, including a pending bill relating to Niagara Falls that he had sponsored.[1]

In 1972, Brydges did not seek reelection to the Senate and he retired on January 1, 1973.[1][6]

Personal life

He married Eleanor C. Mahoney. Together, they had five sons and two daughters, including:[1]

  • Earl W. Brydges, Jr., who married Martha Ann Shalala in 1967.[7]
  • Thomas Eugene Brydges, who married Roxanne Catherine Hammer in 1972.[8]
  • William Brydges[8]
  • Margaret Brydges[8]

Brydges died of cancer in 1975 and his funeral was attended by then Vice President Rockefeller.[1] This was Rockefeller's first visit to Upstate New York as vice president.

Honors

The Earl W. Brydges Artpark in Lewiston, New York, an outdoor theater and concert center that he championed, was named in his honor. In addition, the main public library in Niagara Falls, the Earl W. Brydges Library, designed by architect Paul Rudolph, was named after him.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hudson, Edward (March 31, 1975). "Earl Brydges Dies of Cancer; State Senate Republican Leader". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  2. ^ Times, Special To The New York (17 December 1968). "BRYDGES QUESTIONS CITY SCHOOL PLAN". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  3. ^ Times, Special To The New York (27 November 1965). "STATE SENATORS TO NAME LEADER; Brydges Likely to Get Post at G.O.P. Meeting Dec. 6". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  4. ^ Times, Sydney H. Schanberg Special To The New York (21 February 1966). "DEMOCRATS HALT ALBANY PARLEYS ON REDISTRICTING; | Travia Declares Compromise Efforts Are at Impasse Urges Court Act | G.O.P. CHIEF SURPRISED | Brydges Charges Decision Was Made by Top Echelon Leaders on Outside Reapportionment Negotiations Are Called Off in Legislature". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  5. PMID 11791610
    .
  6. ^ Times, William E. Farrell Special To The New York (3 January 1973). "Legislature Opening Session Today; Debate Foreseen on Budget Surplus". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  7. ^ Winter, Ellore (10 September 1967). "Martha Ann Shalala Married To Earl William Brydges Jr". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Times, Special To The New York (25 November 1972). "Miss Hammer, T. E. Brydges Marry Upstate". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
New York State Senate
Preceded by
William Bewley
 New York State Senate
52nd District
1949–1954 		Succeeded by
Preceded by New York State Senate
54th District
1955–1965 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
new district
 New York State Senate
60th District
1966 		Succeeded by
district abolished
Preceded by
Tarky Lombardi, Jr.
 New York State Senate
52nd District
1967–1972 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minority Leader in the New York State Senate
1965 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Temporary President of the State Senate
1966–1972 		Succeeded by
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