Biography

01/14/1883 - 12/06/1954

Joseph Parker Dando (D29) Schuykill County 1937-1940

Early Life:   

Joseph Parker Dando, born January 14, 1883, Llewellyn, Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, son of Joseph and Margaret Fisher Dando; Branch Township public school education; employed, coal mine slate picker at eleven years old; twenty-three year career in mines, mine superintendent and operator; school director, Schuylkill County, 1911-1922; Tax Receiver, Schuylkill County, 1922-1937; Schuylkill County Engineer, 1924-1928; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1937-1940; married, Anna R. James Dando, children, Alva J. Dando, Hannah A. Dando Wingaris, Annette Clare Dando Kenna, Gwyneth L. Dando Roberts, Mary Dando Narkiewicz, David James Dando; died, December 6, 1954 (aged 71), heart attack, Warne Hospital, Llewellyn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, interment, Mount Peace Cemetery, Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career: 

School director, Schuylkill County, 1911-1922, Tax Receiver, Schuylkill County, 1922-1937; Schuykill County Engineer, 1924-1928. 

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

Member, School Board, Llewellyn 1942-1954, United Mine Workers of America, Minersville Lodge of Masons and Good Intent Fire Company, Llewellyn. 

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 29th district, Schuykill County, 1937-1940; committee assignments, Game and Fisheries (Chairman), Appropriations, City Government, Constitutional Changes, Corporations, Forests and Waters, Legislative Apportionment, Military Affairs, Mines and Mining, Municipal Government, Pensions.   

Legacy: 

First elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 29th district, 20th century, 1937-1940; however, convicted of misusing Works Progress Administration labor at his private amusement park, Llewellyn Pennsylvania. Fined in lieu of a jail term. Unsuccessful reelection, Republican, G. Harold Watkins, 1940. Received a presidential pardon dated July 6, 1951, signed by Harry S. Truman, president, J. Howard McGrath, attorney general. 

Cited: 

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

The Pennsylvania Manual (1937). Westbrook, C.H. (Editor). (Volume 83). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 793, 796, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 778. 

Republican and Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) Monday July 16, 1951, page 12. 

 Joseph Parker Dando (1883-1954) - Find a Grave Memorial