Biography

08/04/1904 - 09/23/1976

Wallace Samuel Gourley (D46) Greene and Washington Counties 1943-1945       

Early Life:

Wallace Samuel Gourley, born August 4, 1904, Wellsville, Columbiana County, Ohio; son of Harry A. and Mary Margaret Barclay Gourley; Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; Ohio State University College of Law (now Michael E. Moritz College of Law), LL.B., 1929; attorney; private practice, Washington, Pennsylvania, 1929-1936; Investigator, Retail Credit Company (now Equifax), Washington, Pennsylvania, 1929-1936; first assistant district attorney, Washington County, Pennsylvania, 1936-1944; Judge, United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1945-1969; Chief Judge, United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1951–1969; Senior Judge, United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1969-1976; married, Mildred Ruth Plunkett Gourley; died, September 23, 1976, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; interment, Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

First assistant district attorney, Washington County, Pennsylvania, 1936-1944.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, Greene and Washington Counties 1943-1945; resigned, December 15, 1945.

Federal Judicial Service:

Nominated, President Harry S Truman, November 2, 1945, filled, seat vacated, Frederic Palen Schoonmaker; confirmed, United State Senate, November 20, 1945, received commission, November 29, 1945: 

Judge, United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1945-1969. 

Chief Judge, United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1951–1969.

Senior Judge, United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1969-1976, service terminated, September 23, 1976, death. 

Federal Judiciary Biography:

Gourley, Wallace Samuel | Federal Judicial Center (fjc.gov)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "G"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Wallace Samuel Gourley (1904-1976) - Find a Grave Memorial