Biography

01/06/1934 - 07/24/2005

Frederick “Fred” Howard Hobbs (R29) Carbon and Schuylkill Counties 1967-1972 (R29) Carbon, Monroe (Part) Schuylkill Counties 1973-1976 

Early Life: 

Frederick “Fred” Howard Hobbs, born, January 6, 1934, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, son of H. (Howard) Blake Hobbs and Marian Hause; educated, Governor Dummer Academy, Byfield, Massachusetts; cum laude, Amherst College (B.A.), 1955; Georgetown University School of Law, LL.B., 1958; United States Army, active and reserve duties, 1959; Attorney, Pottsville, 1961; solicitor, Schuylkill County Housing Authority, Schuylkill County Commissioners, Blythe Township Planning Commission; married Pamela Watkins, 1968; children, Christopher Hobbs, daughter, Elizabeth Hobbs Prillaman; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1967-1976, unsuccessful reelection, 1976; died, July 24, 2005 (71 years, 199 days), emphysema, Pottsville Hospital, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Cremated; ashes interment, Charles Baber Cemetery, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

Solicitor, Schuylkill County Housing Authority, Schuylkill County Commissioners, Blythe Township Planning Commission, American, Pennsylvania and Schuylkill County Bar Associations, admitted to practice before, Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County; Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania; Federal District Court for the District of Columbia; Supreme Court of Rhode Island; Interstate Commerce Commission; represented the State Workers' Insurance Fund. 

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

Member, Executive Committee, Schuylkill County Republican Committee; Board of Directors, Union Bank and Trust Company, Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Commission; Lions, Easter Seals, Freemasons; Heart Association, Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Pottsville Free Public Library Association, the Historical Society of Schuylkill County, St. David's Society of Schuylkill and Carbon Counties, Sons of the American Revolution, The Huguenot Society of Pennsylvania, Arts Council of Schuylkill County; Lodge 216, of the Masonic Order a life member of Amvets. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, 29th district, Pennsylvania State Senate, Carbon and Schuylkill Counties, 1967-1972.  Elected, Republican, 29th district, Pennsylvania State Senate, Carbon Monroe (Part) Schuylkill Counties 1973-1976; committee assignments, Business and Commerce (Minority Chairman), Finance, Insurance, Judiciary, Law and Justice, State Government; unsuccessful reelection, 1976, Democratic candidate, Joseph Gurzenda; second Republican to lose this district seat, since 1900.

Legacy: 

Wife, Pamela Watkins, daughter, Pennsylvania State Senator G. Harold Watkins, 29th District, 1941-1944. 

Son, Christopher Hobbs married Ali Rhoades, son-in-law of Pennsylvania State Senator James J. Rhoades, 29th district, 1980-2008.

Father, H. (Howard) Blake Hobbs, founder, Telephone Answering Service, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 1939. 

Took part in a mock trial of John Kehoe, an alleged Mollie Maguire ringleader. The program was under the auspices of the Schuylkill County Historical Society. Hobbs acted as the presiding judge as the original evidence was presented under modern day court rules. The mock trial jury found the defendant "Not Guilty" after deliberations of thirty minutes

Thought to be a future candidate for a judgeship, that never came to fruition.

 Cited:  

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

The Pennsylvania Manual (1974-1975). Roche, K.M. (Editor). (Volume 102). The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 92 and 94. Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 77.

Frederick Hobbs Obituary (2005) - Harrisburg, PA - Patriot-News (pennlive.com)

Kestenbaum, Lawrence. The Political Graveyard: Watkins-Rhoades-Hobbs family of Pennsylvania The Political Graveyard

Judge Frederick H Hobbs (1934-2005) - Find a Grave Memorial