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Leo W. 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 by	William T. Byrne
Succeeded by	Daniel E. Button
Constituency	32nd district (1952–1953); 30th district (1953–1963); 29th district (1963–1966)
Personal details
Born	Leo William O’Brien; September 21, 1900; Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Died	May 4, 1982 (aged 81); Albany, New York, U.S.
Resting place	St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mabel C. Jean (m. 1925)
Children	1
Alma mater	Niagara University
Occupation	Newspaper reporter; radio and television commentator; politician;

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

Nicknamed "Obie," O'Brien was born in Buffalo, New York.^[2] He graduated from Niagara University in 1922.^[2]

Early career

O'Brien worked as a newspaper journalist for the International News Service, and Albany Knickerbocker Press and Times-Union.^[2] He 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

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

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

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

O'Brien married Mabel C. Jean in 1925.^[3] They were the parents of a son, Robert.^[3]

Legacy

Federal building

The United States federal building in Albany, New York is named after for O'Brien.^[4] It is located at the corner of Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, and contains facilities including a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).^[5]

Honorary degrees

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.^[6] In 1960, O'Brien received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Niagara University.^[7]

In 1961, he received an honorary LL.D. from Siena College.^[8] In May 1966, O'Brien received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Albany College of Pharmacy.^[7]

Other

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.^[9]

References

^ ^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.
^ ^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.
^ ^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.
^ "Honor for O'Brien Proposed". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. July 29, 1972. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Albany Military Entrance Processing Station". MEPS Information. United States Military Entrance Processing Command. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
^ "Record Number Receive Degrees: O'Brien's Talk Lauds Greatest". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Fairbanks, AL. May 18, 1959. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^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.
^ "Honorary Degree Recipients". Siena.edu. Loudonville, NY: Siena College. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^ "Alaska Mountain Named". New York Times. New York, NY. July 15, 1964.

Leo W. O'Brien