Joseph D. Ward

Joseph D. Ward (March 26, 1914 – May 10, 2003) was an American politician who served as Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth from January 1959 to January 1961.

Joseph D. Ward
22nd Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
In office January 20, 1959 – January 1961
Governor	Foster Furcolo
Preceded by	J. Henry Goguen
Succeeded by	Kevin H. White
Member of the Massachusetts Senate 3rd Worcester District[1]
In office 1963[1] – 1973
Preceded by	Elizabeth Ann Stanton
Succeeded by	Robert A. Hall
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives[1] 13th Worcester District
In office 1949[1] – 1956[1]
Personal details
Born	March 26, 1914[2] Fitchburg, Massachusetts[1]
Died	May 10, 2003(2003-05-10) (aged 89) Ocean Ridge, Florida
Political party	Democratic Party[1]
Residence	Fitchburg, Massachusetts Ocean Ridge, Florida
Alma mater	College of the Holy Cross[2] Boston University School of Law[2]
Profession	Lawyer[2]

Ward was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1948, representing the 13th Worcester District. He was a candidate for Massachusetts Attorney General in 1956, but lost to Edward J. McCormack Jr. in the Democratic primary. Ward was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth following the death of Edward J. Cronin. In 1960, Ward ran for Governor of Massachusetts. He defeated Endicott Peabody, Francis E. Kelly, Robert F. Murphy, John Francis Kennedy, Gabriel Piemonte, and Alfred Magaletta in the primary, but lost to John A. Volpe in the general election. He was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1962 and remained there until his retirement from politics in 1972.[3]

Ward also spent 12 years as a professor of political law at Boston University.[3]