Biography

09/12/1877 - 01/25/1960

Thomas B. Wilson (R25) McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties 1941-1944

Early Life:

Thomas B. Wilson, born September 12, 1877, Tidioute, Warren County, Pennsylvania; son of John S. and Elizabeth Wilson; Bradford High School, 1896; studied law under attorneys Rufus Stone and Lester H. Simens; Dickinson School of Law (now Penn State Dickinson Law), 1903; attorney; married, Stella Celestia Wilson, 1903; admitted, McKean County Bar Association, 1903; elected, District Attorney, McKean County, 1912-1920; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1925-1934 terms, not a candidate for reelection, 1935 term; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1941-1944, acting president pro tempore, 1942, not a candidate for reelection, 1944; member, Bradford Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) Lodge, Mason; died, January 25, 1960, Bradford, McKean County, Pennsylvania; interment, Oak Hill Cemetery, Bradford, McKean County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, District Attorney, McKean County, 1912-1920. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1925-1934 terms, not a candidate for reelection, 1935 term. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 25th district, McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties, 1941-1944; acting president pro tempore, 1942; committee assignments, Aeronautics, Education, Elections, Highways, Judiciary General (Chairman) Labor-Industry (Chairman), Public Utilities, State Government, Welfare; not a candidate for reelection, 1944.

Acting president pro tempore, a 1943 amendment to the recess-vacancy rule dropped Governor Sproul’s 1919 provision requiring the Judiciary General chair’s succession to the pro tem position, bestowing the honor on the majority floor leader. The Senate now officially recognized majority and minority floor leaders as formal, paid officers. Other rules changes included the termination, after 152 years, of printing separate House and Senate Journals, clerks recording the proceedings of both in the Legislative Journal.

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited:

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

Thomas B Wilson (1877-1960) - Find a Grave Memorial