Patrick J. Stapleton Jr.

Patrick J. Stapleton (January 7, 1924 – March 13, 2001) was a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.^[2]

Patrick James Stapleton
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 41st district
In office June 8, 1970[1] – November 30, 2000
Preceded by	Albert R. Pechan
Succeeded by	Donald C. White
Personal details
Born	January 7, 1924 Indiana, Pennsylvania
Died	March 13, 2001(2001-03-13) (aged 77) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Madeline Feidler
Children	Patrick J. Stapleton III
Alma mater	Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	U.S. Navy
Years of service	1943-47

The Patrick J. Stapleton Highway, on U.S. Route 119 in Pennsylvania, just north of Homer City, Pennsylvania.

Life

Stapleton, a native of Indiana, Pennsylvania, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He graduated from Indiana State Teachers College, now known as Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in 1949.^[3]

He was sworn in as a Pennsylvania State Senator for the 41st senatorial district on June 8, 1970.^[2] He would become known as a "fixture in the state Senate."^[4] He served as a leader in the Democratic Caucus as Policy Committee Chairman from 1983 through 1996 and as Caucus Administrator beginning in 1997.^[2]

Stapleton retired prior to the 2000 election, supporting the eventual Democratic nominee, Jim McQuown in the "wide-open race" to succeed him.^[5] However, McQuown lost to Donald C. White 54–46 in the general election.^[6] He died in 2001.^[7]

Legacy

The Patrick J. Stapleton Jr. Library at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania is named after him.^[8]

His son, Patrick, is a member of the State Liquor Control Board.^[9]