James Delaney (mayor)

James Delaney (August 26, 1896 – April 20, 1970) was an American politician who served as the seventh mayor of Anchorage, Alaska from 1929 to 1932.

For other people with the same name, see James Delaney (disambiguation).
James Delaney
Delaney in 1924
7th Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska
In office
1929–1932
Preceded byGrant Reed
Succeeded byOscar S. Gill
Personal details
Born(1896-08-26)August 26, 1896
Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland
DiedApril 20, 1970(1970-04-20) (aged 73)
Resting placeAnchorage Memorial Park, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Spouse
Nancy Marie Dillon
​
(m. 1929)​
Children3
ProfessionPolitician

Biography

James J. Delaney, Sr. was born in Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland on August 26, 1896. He came to Anchorage, Alaska in 1916 to work on the railroad for the Alaskan Engineering Commission (known after its 1923 completion as the Alaska Railroad). In 1929, he married Nancy Marie Dillon (born March 5, 1896, in Aghamore, County Mayo, Ireland). The Delaneys had three children: Nancy, James, Jr., and Loretta.

In 1929, Delaney was elected to the first of three consecutive terms as Mayor. His first year in office, he successfully petitioned the General Land Office for the title to the land that would become Merrill Field.[1] The field abutting downtown which was serving as an airstrip at that time was later renamed the Delaney Park Strip.

Delaney died April 20, 1970, and was buried in Anchorage Memorial Park; Nancy would survive him by 16 years, dying in Anchorage on December 29, 1986.

References
  1. "Municipality of Anchorage". www.muni.org. Archived from the original on 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2018-02-11.


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