Frank William Towey Jr.

Frank William Towey Jr. (November 5, 1895 – September 4, 1979) was an American lawyer and politician. Towey, a Democrat, served as the United States Representative from New Jersey's 12th congressional district for one term from 1937 to 1939.[1]

Frank W. Towey Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 12th district
In office
January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939
Preceded byFrederick R. Lehlbach
Succeeded byRobert Kean
Personal details
Born(1895-11-05)November 5, 1895
Jersey City, New Jersey, US
DiedSeptember 4, 1979(1979-09-04) (aged 83)
Montclair, New Jersey
Political partyDemocratic

Background

Towey was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. After attending Manresa Hall Grammar School and St. Peter's Preparatory School, Towey went on to Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, graduating in 1916. Towey then attended the Fordham University School of Law, graduating in 1919.[2] He was commissioned as an infantry second lieutenant in the United States Army in September 1918, and he served until he was honorably discharged in January 1919.[2] He was admitted to the bar in 1920 and started his law practice in Newark, New Jersey.

Politics

In 1936, the Democrat Towey decided to run for the House of Representatives seat for New Jersey's 12th congressional district. He was set to face eleven-term incumbent Republican Frederick R. Lehlbach. In a very close election, Towey beat the incumbent Lehlbach, capturing 54,688 votes in comparison to his 54,363, giving Towey a 49.9%-49.6% victory.[3] Towey would only serve one term in the House of Representatives. In the 1938 House elections, Towey faced Republican challenger Robert W. Kean, a member of the New Jersey Kean political family. Towey lost to Kean by a nearly 14% margin.[4]

Towey resumed his law practice in Newark. From 1940 to 1947, he served as a member of the state's Selective Appeal Board. In 1943, he became assistant to the United States Attorney General, remaining in this position until 1955.[2]

Death

Towey died in Montclair, New Jersey on September 4, 1979 at the age of 83.[1] His ashes were interred in Acacia Memorial Park, near Seattle, Washington.[2]

References
  1. Lawrence Kestenbaum. "Frank William Towey Jr. Profile". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
  2. "Frank William Towey Jr. Profile". United States Congress. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
  3. John L. Moore, ed. (1994). Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly. p. 1543. ISBN 0-87187-996-4. pg. 1181
  4. Moore (1994), pg. 1186
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Frederick R. Lehlbach		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 12th congressional district
1937–1939		 Succeeded by
Robert Kean
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.