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Leo W. O'Brien

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For Wisconsin politician, see Leo P. O'Brien.
Leo W. O'Brien
O'Brien during his final term in 1965
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
April 1, 1952 – December 30, 1966
Preceded byWilliam T. Byrne
Succeeded byDaniel E. Button
Constituency32nd district (1952–1953)
30th district (1953–1963)
29th district (1963–1966)
Member of the Port of Albany District Commission
In office
April 30, 1935 – March 27, 1952
Preceded byPeter G. Ten Eyck
Succeeded byRaymond F. Joyce
Personal details
Born
Leo William O’Brien

(1900-09-21)September 21, 1900
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 4, 1982(1982-05-04) (aged 81)
Albany, New York, U.S.
Resting placeSt. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Mabel C. Jean
​
(m. 1925)​
Children1
Alma materNiagara University
OccupationJournalist

Leo William O'Brien (September 21, 1900 – May 4, 1982) was an American journalist, radio and television commentator, and politician. A Democrat, he was most notable for his seven terms of service as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1952 to 1966.[1]

Early life

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Nicknamed "Obie," O'Brien was born in Buffalo, New York on 21 September 1900, a son of Patrick O'Brien and Agnes O'Brien.[2][3][4] Patrick O'Brien was a Buffalo-area building contractor who later became responsible for construction at Niagara University.[5] Leo O'Brien was a 1918 graduate of Buffalo's St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute and graduated from Niagara University in 1922.[2][6]

Early career

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O'Brien worked as a newspaper journalist for the International News Service, and Albany Knickerbocker Press and Times-Union.[2] He was active in the Legislative Correspondents' Association and served terms as member of the board of directors,[7] secretary,[8] vice president,[9] and president.[10] O'Brien later became a radio and television commentator.[2] From 1935 to 1952 he was a member of the Port of Albany District Commission.[1]

Congressman

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In 1952 he was the successful Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives seat left vacant by the death of William T. Byrne.[2] He was reelected seven times and served from April 1, 1952 until resigning on December 30, 1966, a few days before the end of his final term.[2] He was not a candidate for reelection in 1966.[2]

Policies

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As a member of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, O'Brien was a leading advocate for Alaska and Hawaii statehood.[1] He also helped create the Fire Island National Seashore, and strongly advocated cleanup of the Hudson River and protecting it as a scenic waterway.[1]

Later life

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Grave marker at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Menands

After leaving Congress O'Brien served as Chairman of the Albany County Planning Board and the Adirondack Study Commission.[2]

He died at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, New York on May 4, 1982.[1] He was buried at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands.[2]

Family

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O'Brien married Mabel C. Jean in 1925.[11] They were the parents of a son, Robert.[11]

Legacy

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federal building in Albany, named for O'Brien

Federal building

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The United States federal building in Albany, New York is named after for O'Brien.[12] It is located at the corner of Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, and contains facilities including a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).[13]

Honorary degrees

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In 1959, O'Brien received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in recognition of his efforts to promote Alaska statehood.[14] In 1960, O'Brien received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Niagara University.[15]

In 1961, he received an honorary LL.D. from Siena College.[16] In May 1966, O'Brien received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Albany College of Pharmacy.[15]

Other

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In April 1951, O'Brien was one of 20 journalists nationwide whose excellence in reporting was recognized with the Sigma Delta Chi Award.[17]

As additional recognition of his Alaska statehood efforts, in 1964 the state government named Mount Terrance, a mountain near Haines, Alaska after O'Brien's 10-year-old grandson.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Walter H. Waggoner (May 5, 1982). "Leo W. O'Brien, 81, is Dead; Former Albany Congressman". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i U.S. Congress (2005). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 1669. ISBN 978-0-16-073176-1 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "1905 New York State Census, Entry for Patrick O'Brien Family". Ancestry.com. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1 June 1905. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Mrs. Rooney Dies at Home Of Daughter". Buffalo Courier-Express. Buffalo, New York. 11 December 1960. p. 9-C – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Rites For Contractor". Buffalo Courier-Express. Buffalo, New York. 3 October 1929. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Dulski, Thaddeus J. (18 March 1960). "Hon. Leo W. O'Brien". Congressional Record. Vol. 106, no. 47. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 5596 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Legislative Writers Elect New Officers". Brooklyn Eagle. Brooklyn. United Press. 14 January 1937. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "State Legislative reporters Elect Crary President". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, New York. Associated Press. 22 January 1931. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Bill Provides Tailors Must Post Addresses". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. 28 January 1932. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Armitage Honored At Albany Dinner". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. 6 April 1933. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b U.S. House of Representatives (1960). Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 86th Congress, Second Session. Vol. 106, Part 5. Washington, DC: US Government printing Office. p. 6031 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "Honor for O'Brien Proposed". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. July 29, 1972. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Albany Military Entrance Processing Station". MEPS Information. United States Military Entrance Processing Command. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  14. ^ "Record Number Receive Degrees: O'Brien's Talk Lauds Greatest". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Fairbanks, AK. May 18, 1959. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Rep. Leo W. O"Brien To Speak To June Graduates". Alumni News. Albany, NY: Albany College of Pharmacy. May 1, 1996. pp. 1, 4.
  16. ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients". Siena.edu. Loudonville, NY: Siena College. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  17. ^ "O'Brien Wins SDX Award". Syracuse Herald-Journal. Syracuse, New York. 12 April 1951. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Alaska Mountain Named". New York Times. New York, NY. July 15, 1964.

Further reading

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 32nd congressional district
1952–1953 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 30th congressional district
1953–1963 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 29th congressional district
1963–1966 		Succeeded by
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