Arthur Earley

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.

Arthur F. Earley
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 159th district
In office
1979 – June 9, 1981
Preceded byFrancis Tenaglio
Succeeded byRobert C. Wright
Personal details
BornSeptember 4, 1925
Lynchburg, Virginia
DiedJune 9, 1981 (aged 55)[1]
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania[2]
Political partyRepublican
ChildrenClaudia, Langston
ResidencePA
OccupationAttorney, State Representative

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
  1. Cox, Harold (November 3, 2004). "Pennsylvania House of Representatives – 1981-1982" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  2. "Jet". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company (v. 60, nos. 14-26). 1981. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
  3. "Arthur F. Earley". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  4. deClouet, Fred (2000). First Black Marines: Vanguard of a Legacy. p. 86. ISBN 1-58820-120-1. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  5. "Hall of Fame". www.montfordpointmarines.org. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  6. "Black Legislators in Pennsylvania: 1911–2010" (PDF). www.house.state.pa.us. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
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