Biography

01/03/1903 - 04/18/1984

James Stanley Berger (R25) McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties 1945-1964 (R25) Cameron, Clinton, Potter, McKean and Warren Counties 1964-1966 (R25) Elk, Forest, McKean, Venango and Warren Counties 1967-1968

Early Life: 

James Stanley Berger, born January 3, 1903, Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania; son of Clarendon Audley Berger and Harriett M. Stanley Berger; Kenyon College; Dickinson Law; admitted, Potter County Bar; established, law practices, Warren, Coudersport, Pennsylvania; member, Jones and Lewis law offices; married, Georgianna J. Daniels, 1932, son, James Daniel “Jim” Berger; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1945-1968,Republican caucus leader, majority leader, 1959-1960, minority leader, 1961-1962, Republican caucus leader, majority leader, 1963-1964, President pro tempore, 1964-1966; died, April 18, 1984, Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania; interment, Eulalia Cemetery, Coudersport, Potter County, Pennsylvania.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Coudersport Scottish Rite Bodies, commander in chief, Coudersport Consistory, coroneted, honorary member, Eulalia Masonic Lodge 342 Free and Accepted Masons, Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, 1955. 

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 25th district, McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties, 1945-1964, Republican caucus leader, majority leader, 1959-1960, minority leader, 1961-1962, Republican caucus leader, majority leader, 1963-1964; committee assignments, Labor and Industry (Vice Chairman)1949-1950,  Labor and Industry, (Chairman) 1951-1958, Constitutional Changes (Vice Chairman) 1955, Judiciary General, (Vice Chairman), 1957-1958, Rules, 1959-1960; Finance, (Vice Chairman) 1963-1964. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 25th district, Cameron, Clinton, Potter, McKean and Warren Counties, President pro tempore, 1964-1966, committee assignments, as president pro tempore, ex-oficio of all committees. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 25th district, Elk, Forest, McKean, Venango and Warren Counties, 1967-1968.

Chair, bribery investigation committee, submitted, Senator John Haluska, indicating Harvey Taylor alleged acceptance of money for withdrawing opposition to the session’s income tax measure. Successful defense by the chair, led to exoneration of president pro tempore, Harvey Taylor.   

Director, Legislative Reference Bureau, 1969-1971. 

Cited:

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

The Potter Enterprise (Coudersport, Pennsylvania) Wednesday, April 25, 1984.

James S. Berger (1903-1984) - Find a Grave Memorial