Arthur F. Earley | |
|---|---|
| Member of the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 159th district | |
| In office 1979 – June 9, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Francis Tenaglio |
| Succeeded by | Robert C. Wright |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 4, 1925 Lynchburg, Virginia |
| Died | June 9, 1981 (aged 55)
[1] Harrisburg, Pennsylvania [2] |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | Claudia, Langston |
| Residence | PA |
| Occupation | Attorney, State Representative |
Arthur Franklin Earley (September 4, 1925 – June 9, 1981) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 159th district from 1979 to 1981. [3] He was the first black member elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 159th district. He was among the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps and was a founder of the Montford Point Marine Association.
Early life and education
Earley was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He received an A.B. from Howard University, attended American University and received an LL.B from Temple University Law School. [3]
He served in World War II in the United States Marine Corps from 1943 to 1946. [3]
In 1965, Earley was a legal advisor to the creation of the Montford Point Marine Association, [4] a non-profit, military veteran organization founded to memorialize the legacy of the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps. Earley was accepted into the Montford Point Marine Association Hall of Fame posthumously in 1999. [5]
Career
Earley served as the assistant district attorney for Delaware County, Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1978. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 159th district for the 1979 and 1981 terms.
Earley was a member of the Delaware County bar association, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and the NAACP. [6]
He died of a heart attack in office in 1981 [3] and was succeeded by Robert C. Wright.
References
- ^ Cox, Harold (November 3, 2004). "Pennsylvania House of Representatives – 1981-1982" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
- ^ "Jet". Jet (v. 60, nos. 14-26). Johnson Publishing Company. 1981. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
- ^ a b c d "Arthur F. Earley". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ deClouet, Fred (2000). First Black Marines: Vanguard of a Legacy. p. 86. ISBN 1-58820-120-1. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- ^ "Hall of Fame". www.montfordpointmarines.org. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- ^ "Black Legislators in Pennsylvania: 1911–2010" (PDF). www.house.state.pa.us. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- 1925 births
- 1981 deaths
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 20th-century American legislators
- African Americans in World War II
- African-American state legislators in Pennsylvania
- United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
- Howard University alumni
- Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Temple University alumni
- United States Marines
- 20th-century African-American politicians
- African-American men in politics
- African-American United States Navy personnel
- 20th-century African-American lawyers
- 20th-century Pennsylvania politicians