William Ozzard | |
|---|---|
| 95th President of theNew Jersey Senate | |
| In office 1963–1963 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Farley |
| Succeeded by | Charles W. Sandman |
| Member of theNew Jersey Senate from the8th district | |
| In office 1957–1973 | |
| Preceded by | district created |
| Succeeded by | Raymond Bateman |
| Member of theNew Jersey General Assembly from theSomerset County district | |
| In office 1953–1957 | |
| Succeeded by | Raymond Bateman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Edward Ozzard (1915-06-15)June 15, 1915 Weehawken, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 2002(2002-06-22) (aged 87) |
| Party | Republican |
William E. Ozzard (June 15, 1915 — June 29, 2002) was anAmericanRepublican Party politician who served for 13 years in theNew Jersey Legislature, serving asNew Jersey Senate President in 1963. He was President of theNew Jersey Board of Public Utilities from 1970 to 1973.
Ozzard was born in 1915 inWeehawken, New Jersey.[1] He grew up inBound Brook, New Jersey, and attendedBound Brook High School, graduating in 1931. He graduated fromRutgers University andNew York University Law School. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar and joined theSomerville law firm of Beekman & Beekman, where he later became a partner.[2]
InWorld War II, Ozzard served as a first lieutenant in theUnited States Army. He received theArmy Commendation Ribbon, theEuropean Campaign Medal, theWorld War II Victory Medal, theArmy of Occupation Medal and twobattle stars.[2]
Ozzard was elected to theNew Jersey General Assembly from Somerset County in 1953. In 1957, he succeededMalcolm Forbes in theNew Jersey Senate when Forbes ran forGovernor of New Jersey. He served as Senate President in 1963 and was Acting Governor in the absence of GovernorRichard J. Hughes. He left the Senate in 1967 and was appointed by Governor Hughes as a Commissioner of theNew Jersey Board of Public Utilities.[2]
In 1969, Ozzard unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey.[3] He lost the Republican primary toWilliam T. Cahill, also finishing behind U.S. Rep.Charles W. Sandman, Jr., State Sen.Harry L. Sears, and State Sen.Frank X. McDermott.[4] Cahill went on to win the general election and in 1970 appointed Ozzard to be president of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners.[5] He served until 1973.[2]
Ozzard was admitted to the Florida bar in 1975. He died on June 29, 2002, at the age of 87.[6] He was buried inSomerset Hills Memorial Park.
He was included in the first nominating class of the Bound Brook High School Alumni Hall of Fame upon its creation in 2003.[2][7]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of theNew Jersey Senate 1963 | Succeeded by |
