Alfred Nash Beadleston, Jr. (February 20, 1912 – January 18, 2000) was an AmericanRepublican Party politician who served as Speaker of theNew Jersey General Assembly and President of theNew Jersey Senate.
Beadleston was born inRumson, New Jersey, in 1912 to Alfred Nash Beadleston, Sr. (1848–1915), partner in theBeadleston & Woerz brewery, and his wife Helen F. Hazard (1888–1937), daughter of Edward Clarke Hazard of the grocery firmE. C. Hazard and Company. His parents made headlines when they married in 1909, when the elder Beadleston was 60 years old and his bride was only 21.[1][2] This was his father's second marriage.[3]
Beadleston attendedFay School inSouthborough, Massachusetts, andSt. Paul's School inConcord, New Hampshire, andYale College. After graduating in 1934, Beadleston converted the family brewing company's facilities into commercial property and embarked on a career in public service. In 1938 he was elected to theShrewsbury Borough Council, and two years later he was elected asMayor of Shrewsbury, New Jersey. He served as Shrewsbury mayor from 1941 to 1952.[1]
In 1951 Beadleston was elected to theGeneral Assembly fromMonmouth County. In 1954 he authored legislation commonly known as "The Beadleston Act," which protected students in the State of New Jersey with educational disabilities by guaranteeing their right tospecial education.[1] The Beadleston Act is highly regarded as the cornerstone predecessor to theEducation for All Handicapped Children Act, and subsequently theIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Beadleston was named Speaker of the Assembly in 1964. In 1967 he was elected to theState Senate. He served as Senate President in 1973, becoming one of the few politicians in state history to hold the leadership posts in both houses of the legislature.[4]
Beadleston declined to run for another Senate term in 1977, retiring to his Rumson home. He died on January 18, 2000, atRiverview Medical Center inRed Bank at the age of 88.[4][5]
Beadleston's first marriage, to Sylvia Lawrence White on February 16, 1935. They had William Beadleston, their son, in 1936.[6] Their marriage ended in divorce. He married Isabel Palmer Morrell Waud on February 7, 1948. She was the widow of Dr. Sydney P. Waud of Chicago, a colonel in theArmy Medical Corps.[7][8]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Speaker of theNew Jersey General Assembly 1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theNew Jersey Senate 1973 | Succeeded by |
