George M. Leader

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
George M. Leader
Pennsylvania Senate
from the 28th district
In office
January 2, 1951 – November 30, 1954
Preceded byGuy Leader
Succeeded byHarry E. Seyler
Personal details
Born
George Michael Leader

(1918-01-17)January 17, 1918
York, Pennsylvania
DiedMay 9, 2013(2013-05-09) (aged 95)
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary Jane Strickler
Alma materGettysburg College
University of Pennsylvania
OccupationChicken hatchery operator

George Michael Leader (January 17, 1918 – May 9, 2013) was an American politician. He served as the 36th

governor of Pennsylvania from January 18, 1955, until January 20, 1959. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and a native of York County, Pennsylvania. He was the only person from that county ever to be elected governor of the state until the election of Tom Wolf
in 2014.

Early life

George Leader was the third child of

philosophy, politics, and economics. Leader received an MGA from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1939, he married Mary Jane Strickler, and, during World War II, he served on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater.[2]

Career

Following the war, Leader began a family-operated chicken

State Treasurer of Pennsylvania.[3] Despite narrowly losing that race, he built name recognition for himself that would be useful for any future run for statewide office.[2]

Leader utilized this name recognition to run for governor in 1954. The

Lloyd Wood, the Republican nominee, by 280,000 votes. Sworn in on January 18, 1955, one day after turning 37, he was the second youngest person ever to be elected to the post.[2]

During his administration, Leader initiated programs to deal with Pennsylvania's lackluster economy and its substantial

minorities.[2] He appointed Andrew M. Bradley as the first African American to serve in a Cabinet-level position in Pennsylvania.[5] As governor, Leader unsuccessfully attempted to create a graduated income tax.[6]

George Leader and his wife plaque marking the planting of woodland in their honour, Kiryat Moshe, Jerusalem 1956

Leader was unable to run for re-election in 1958 because the Pennsylvania Constitution that was in place at that time

term limited governors to a single four-year term. Instead, he opted to run that year for a seat in the Senate, a race which he lost to Republican Congressman Hugh Scott.[2]

Later life and death

Although Leader never again sought elected office following his 1958 defeat, he stayed active in Democratic politics and had spoken out on a number of issues. He and his family established Country Meadows[7] and Providence Place Retirement[8] Communities in the 1980s and 90s, and resided in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania.[2] Leader remained active in operating the non-profit Providence Place Retirement Communities, while his family operated Country Meadows facilities. Country Meadows' CEO is Leader's son G. Michael Leader, COO is son David Leader, and CFO is son-in-law Ted Janeczek. Mary Jane Leader died March 15, 2011, due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[9]

Upon the death of former Delaware governor Elbert Carvel in 2005, Leader became the earliest serving US governor of any state still living until his death in 2013.

Leader died on May 9, 2013, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, at the age of 95 at Country Meadows Retirement Community, which he founded.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Distinguished Alumni". Tau Kappa Epsilon. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Archived 2006-09-25 at the Wayback Machine website
  3. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence (2009). "George Michael Leader entry". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  4. ^ Susan Strahan, Susquehanna, river of Dreams. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993, 0801846021, p. 189.
  5. ^ Hodge, Ruth E. (2000). "RG-20. Records of the Department of General Services". Guide to African American Resources at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  6. ^ Kenneth C. Wolensky with Governor George M. Leader. 2011. The Life of Pennsylvania Governor George M Leader: Challenging Complacency. Bethlehem: Lehigh University Press.
  7. ^ Country Meadows - Independent, Retirement, & Assisted Living Communities in Pennsylvania
  8. ^ Providence Place
  9. ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer
  10. ^ Snyder, Myles (9 May 2013). "Former governor George Leader dies". abc27. Archived from the original on 15 June 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2013.

External links

Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 28th district
1951–1954 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania
1954 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Class 1)
1958
 Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Pennsylvania
1955–1959 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Earliest serving US governor still living
February 6, 2005 – May 9, 2013 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_M._Leader&oldid=1186547667"