William F. Walsh

William Francis Walsh
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 33rd district
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979
Preceded byHoward W. Robison
Succeeded byGary A. Lee
48th Mayor of Syracuse
In office
1961–1969
Preceded byDonald H. Mead
Succeeded byLee Alexander
Personal details
Born(1912-07-11)July 11, 1912
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 8, 2011(2011-01-08) (aged 98)
Marcellus, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Dorsey Walsh
Children7 (including James T. Walsh)
Alma materSt. Bonaventure University
University at Buffalo
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army Air Forces
Years of service1941–1946
RankCaptain
UnitUnited States Army Air Forces
Battles/warsWorld War II

William Francis Walsh (July 11, 1912 – January 8, 2011) was a Republican-Conservative member of the United States House of Representatives from New York State.[1][2]

Biography

Walsh was born in Syracuse, New York, to Irish immigrant parents.[1][3] He graduated from St. Bonaventure's College, now St. Bonaventure University, in 1934.[1] He received a master's degree in social work from the University at Buffalo in 1949,[1] and an honorary doctorate in civil law from St. Bonaventure University in 1970.[1] He served in the United States Army Air Forces from 1941 to 1946,[1] first as a private, and later being honorably discharged as a captain.[1]

Walsh worked in social services, including serving as a field representative for the New York State Commission Against Discrimination.[4] He was appointed Welfare Commissioner of Onondaga County in New York State in 1959.[1] He was elected mayor of Syracuse in 1961,[1] and served until 1969.[1] He became more nationally known by serving as Vice President of the US Conference of Mayors.[2] He was a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention.[1][2] He was elected to Congress in 1972,[1][2] and served from January 3, 1973, until January 3, 1979.[1][2]

Honors in memory

At St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York, the William F. Walsh Science Center was named in his honor in 2006 and dedicated in 2008.[5] The Center was built as a result of $10 million in federal monies[5] secured for its construction with the assistance of former United States Congress Member James T. Walsh,[1][5] William's son, who is also a Republican.[5]

Personal life

Walsh was married to Mary Dorsey Walsh,[2] and had seven children,[2] all of whom pursued careers in public service.[2] Walsh's children, Bill Walsh and Martha Hood Walsh are judges in Onondaga County,[2] and James T. Walsh served in Congress for twenty years.[2] His grandson Ben Walsh became Syracuse mayor in 2018.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Walsh, William Francis, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Washington, DC: US Congress, Undated, Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j William F. Walsh, former Syracuse mayor and congressman, dies at 98, The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Media Group, 8 January 2011, Weiner, M., Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  3. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/walsh.htm
  4. ^ "At Leadership Session". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, NY. June 12, 1953. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d Congressman James T. Walsh: Technology Archived 2015-01-24 at the Wayback Machine, St. Bonaventure University Friedsam Memorial Library archives, St. Bonaventure, NY, Spring 2009, Barthomay, R., Retrieved 19 January 2014.