Fred B. Rooney | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's15th district | |
| In office July 30, 1963 – January 3, 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Francis E. Walter |
| Succeeded by | Donald L. Ritter |
| Member of thePennsylvania State Senate for the18th district | |
| In office November 5, 1958 – August 6, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph J. Yosko |
| Succeeded by | Gus P. Verona |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frederick Bernard Rooney Jr. (1925-11-06)November 6, 1925 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | December 23, 2019(2019-12-23) (aged 94) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Evelyn Rooney[1] |
| Relatives | T. J. Rooney (nephew) |
| Alma mater | University of Georgia (Bachelor of Business Administration) |
Frederick Bernard Rooney Jr. (November 6, 1925 – December 23, 2019) was an American politician fromPennsylvania who served as aDemocratic member of theU.S. House of Representatives forPennsylvania's 15th congressional district from 1963 to 1979.
Rooney was born inBethlehem, Pennsylvania to Fred B. (1881–1945) and Veronica K. (McGreevy) Rooney (1887–1969). He graduated from Bethlehem High School in 1944 and served in theUnited States Army from February 1944 to April 1946, with service in Europe as aparatrooper. He graduated from theUniversity of Georgia inAthens, Georgia in 1950 with aBachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. He worked in the real estate and insurance businesses.[2]
Rooney served as a member of thePennsylvania State Senate for the18th district from November 5, 1958, until his resignation on August 6, 1963.[2]
He was elected as a Democrat to the88th Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States RepresentativeFrancis E. Walter, and reelected to the seven succeeding Congresses. Rooney served on the House Transportation Committee, where his specialties included railroad issues. He was one of the architects of the 1976 legislation that establishedConrail, which took over the operation of potentially profitable railroad companies that had fallen into bankruptcy, including the Penn Central.
He was defeated in his bid for reelection byDonald L. Ritter in 1978.
After leaving Congress, he joinedCassidy & Associates inWashington, D.C., one of the nation's largest government relations and lobbying firms.[3] He later he went into business for himself, representingConrail, theAssociation of American Railroads, and theAmerican Iron and Steel Institute.
In 2009, a portion ofPennsylvania Route 378 inBethlehem fromUS 22 to theHill to Hill Bridge was renamed the Fred B. Rooney Highway, recognizing his role in the creation of that portion of the highway.[4]
Rooney's nephewT. J. Rooney also served in thePennsylvania General Assembly.
Rooney died at his home inWashington, D.C., on December 23, 2019.[1] He was 94.
5. "Fred B Rooney" Obituary, Washington Post, print edition 29 DEC 2019.
| Pennsylvania State Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph Yosko | Member of thePennsylvania Senate,18th district 1958-1963 | Succeeded by Gus Verona |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 15th congressional district 1963-1979 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
