Biography

03/30/1929 - 04/24/2014

Raphael John “Ray” Musto (D14) Luzerne (Part) County 1983-2002 (D14) Carbon (Part), Luzerne (Part), and Monroe (Part) Counties 2003-2010

Early Life:

Raphael John “Ray” Musto, born March 30, 1929, Pittston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; son of James and Rose Musto; Pittston Township High School, 1946; King’s College, B.S., 1971; honorary Doctorate of Humanities, Kings College, honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Wilkes University; United States Army, Korean War, 1951-1953; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Special Election, 1971-1980; elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives Congress, Special Election, 1980-1981, unsuccessful campaign for reelection, 1980; elected, elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1983-2010, elected, Democratic Caucus Secretary, 1997-2004; married, Frances Panzetta Musto, sons, James, Ray Jr., Michael, daughter, Fran; died, April 24, 2014 (aged 85), Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; interment, Pittston City Cemetery, Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Special Election, vacancy, death, father, James Musto, unexpired term, 1971, sworn-In, November 8, 1971, resigned, April 15, 1980.  

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 14th district, Luzerne (Part) County, 1983-2002, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 14th district, Carbon (Part), Luzerne (Part), and Monroe (Part) Counties 2003-2010, elected, Democratic Caucus Secretary, 1997-2004; appointed, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, 1985-2008; appointed, PennVEST, 1989-1994; appointed, PennVEST, 1997-2010; appointed, board, State Employees’ Retirement System, 1999-2010; appointed, vice-chair, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, 2007-2008; appointed, vice-chair, Joint Conservation Committee, 2009-2010; committee assignments, Appropriations, Community, Economic and Recreational Development, Environmental Resources and Energy (Minority Chair), Local Government (Minority Chair). 

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Biography:

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

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, Special Election, resignation, Daniel J. Flood, April 9, 1980-1981, unsuccessful campaign for reelection, 1980. 

Legacy: 

Farther, James A. Musto, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Luzerne County, 1948-1971

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

Cited:

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

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2009-2010). Trostle, S. (Editor). (Volume 119). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; pages 3-33, 3-40. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-20.

Senator Raphael J. Musto Obituary (2014) - Pittston Township, PA - Times Leader (legacy.com)

Raphael John “Ray” Musto (1929-2014) - Find a Grave Memorial