Thomas E. Delahanty

Thomas E. Delahanty (July 26, 1914 – February 4, 1985) was a justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He was appointed to the position on September 5, 1973 and later served as active retired from August 31, 1979 until his death.[3]

Thomas E. Delahanty
Judge of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
In office
September 5, 1973 – February 4, 1985
Appointed byKenneth M. Curtis
Judge of the Maine Superior Court
In office
December 31, 1958 – September 5, 1973
Appointed byEdmund Muskie
Personal details
Born(1914-07-26)July 26, 1914
Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
DiedFebruary 4, 1985(1985-02-04) (aged 70)
Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
Spouse
Jeanne Clifford
​
(m. 1942)​
Children
[1][2]
Alma materGeorge Washington University
Columbus School of Law

Early life and education

Delahanty was the son of an Irish immigrant and working-class parents, Thomas and Agnes Culbert Delahanty. He was the third of five children and attended Lewiston High School where he excelled at baseball and football. He worked in local textile mills to earn money for law school. After getting an athletic scholarship to George Washington University, he earned a law degree from the Columbus School of Law.[3] After an ulcer kept him out of the military during World War II, he became a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[4] [5]

Career

In 1945, Delahanty returned to Lewiston, Maine and opened a law office.[1] In 1948, he was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maine. In 1954, he was a candidate for United States House of Representatives from Maine's 2nd congressional district.[6] Delahanty was appointed to the Maine Superior Court in on December 31, 1958 as one of Edmund Muskie's final acts as Governor of Maine. He served on the Superior Court until his appointment to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on September 5, 1973.[1]

Personal life

Thomas E. Delahanty was married to Jeanne Clifford who was the daughter of Judge John David Clifford, Jr.,[1] cousin to Judge Robert W. Clifford, and granddaughter of John M. C. Smith, a U.S. Representative from Michigan's 3rd congressional district. Their eldest son, Thomas E. Delahanty II, was appointed as a justice of the Maine Superior Court.[7]

Thomas and his wife, Jeanne, regularly spent summers residing at Pine Point in Scarborough, Maine.[1]

Legacy

Following his death, a memorial service was held for Thomas E. Delahanty on June 10, 1985 at the Androscoggin County Courthouse.[3]

The Androscoggin County Law Library was named in honor of Thomas E. Delahanty until it closed in 2014.[8]

References
  1. "Jeanne Clifford Delahanty". Sun Journal. March 26, 2005. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  2. "Obituary: John David Delahanty". Portland Press Herald. February 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  3. Maine Reporter. 2. Vol. 488 A.2d - 497 A.2d. West Publishing Co. 1986. pp. XLVII to LXVII.
  4. "Looking Back on June 11, 2010". Sun Journal. 2010-06-11. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  5. "The Supreme Judicial Court of the State of Maine, 1820 to 2015". Cleaves Law Library. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
  6. "Index to Politicians: Dehardit to Deland". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  7. "Interview with Tom Delahanty, II". Muskie Oral History Project. Bates College. 2000-03-10. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  8. Hartill, Daniel (2014-07-18). "Androscoggin County Law Library to pack up its books". Sun Journal. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
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