Earle D. Willey
Encyclopedia
Earle Dukes Willey was an American lawyer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party, who served as U.S. Representative from Delaware.
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1911. He also attended The George Washington University Law School
in Washington, D.C. and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1920.
in Washington, D.C. from 1915 until 1917 and State librarian from 1917 until 1921. Having been admitted to the Bar he was appointed deputy attorney general and prosecuting attorney for Kent County, Delaware from 1921 until 1931, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Kent County from 1931 until 1939, and Judge of the juvenile court of Kent and Sussex Counties from 1933 until 1939. Willey was Secretary of State from 1941 until 1943 and served as a trustee of the University of Delaware
, of the Elizabeth W. Murphy School for Orphan Children, and of the State College for Colored Students.
Willey was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware in 1940, being defeated by Democrat Isaac J. MacCollum. Two years later, in 1942, Willey was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating incumbent Democratic Representative Philip A. Traynor. He served in the Republican minority in the 78th Congress, and lost his bid for a second term in 1944 to his predecessor, Democrat, Philip A. Traynor. Willey served from January 3, 1943 until January 3, 1945, during the administration of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Following his term, he resumed the practice of law in Dover.
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |Public Offices
|-
! Office
! Type
! Location
! Began office
! Ended office
! notes
|-
|Judge
|Judiciary
|Dover
|1931
|1939
|Court of Common Pleas
|-
|Secretary of State of Delaware
|Executive
|Dover
|January 15, 1941
|January 3, 1943
|
|-
|U.S. Representative
|Legislature
|Washington
|January 3, 1943
|January 3, 1945
|
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |United States Congressional service
|-
! Dates
! Congress
! Chamber
! Majority
! President
! Committees
! Class/District
|-
|1943–1945
|78th
|U.S. House
|Democratic
|Franklin D. Roosevelt
|
|at-large
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Election results
|-
| Year
| Office
|
| Subject
| Party
| Votes
| %
|
| Opponent
| Party
| Votes
| %
|-
|1940
|Lt. Governor
|
| |Earle D. Willey
| |Republican
| |
| |
|
| |Isaac J. MacCollum
| |Democratic
| |
| |
|-
|1942
|U.S. Representative
|
| |Earle D. Willey
| |Republican
| |45,376
| |54%
|
| |Philip A. Traynor
| |Democratic
| |38,791
| |46%
|-
|1944
|U.S. Representative
|
| |Earle D. Willey
| |Republican
| |62,378
| |49%
|
| |Philip A. Traynor
| |Democratic
| |63,649
| |50%
Early life and family
Willey was born in Greenwood, Delaware. He attended the public schools and was graduated from Dickinson CollegeDickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1911. He also attended The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
in Washington, D.C. and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1920.
Professional and political career
Beginning as the principal of Greenwood High School from 1911 until 1915; Willey became secretary to U.S. Representative Thomas W. MillerThomas W. Miller
Thomas Woodnutt Miller was an American businessman, lawyer and politician, from Wilmington, Delaware, and Reno, Nevada. He was a veteran of World War I and a member of the Republican Party, who served as U. S. Representative from Delaware.-Early life and family:Miller was born in Wilmington,...
in Washington, D.C. from 1915 until 1917 and State librarian from 1917 until 1921. Having been admitted to the Bar he was appointed deputy attorney general and prosecuting attorney for Kent County, Delaware from 1921 until 1931, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Kent County from 1931 until 1939, and Judge of the juvenile court of Kent and Sussex Counties from 1933 until 1939. Willey was Secretary of State from 1941 until 1943 and served as a trustee of the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
, of the Elizabeth W. Murphy School for Orphan Children, and of the State College for Colored Students.
Willey was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware in 1940, being defeated by Democrat Isaac J. MacCollum. Two years later, in 1942, Willey was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating incumbent Democratic Representative Philip A. Traynor. He served in the Republican minority in the 78th Congress, and lost his bid for a second term in 1944 to his predecessor, Democrat, Philip A. Traynor. Willey served from January 3, 1943 until January 3, 1945, during the administration of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Following his term, he resumed the practice of law in Dover.
Death and legacy
Willey died at Dover, Delaware, and is buried in the St. Johnstown Cemetery, near Greenwood, Delaware.Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. U.S. Representatives take office January 3rd and have a two year term.{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |Public Offices
|-
! Office
! Type
! Location
! Began office
! Ended office
! notes
|-
|Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
|Judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
|Dover
Dover, Delaware
The city of Dover is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, and the principal city of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County. It is located on the St. Jones River in the Delaware...
|1931
|1939
|Court of Common Pleas
Delaware Court of Common Pleas
The Delaware Court of Common Pleas are state courts of the U.S. state of Delaware.The Delaware Court of Common Pleas are trial courts and inferior courts of limited jurisdiction. It has criminal jurisdiction throughout the state over all misdemeanors, except certain drug offenses, and motor vehicle...
|-
|Secretary of State of Delaware
Secretary of State of Delaware
The Secretary of State of Delaware is the head of the Department of State of the U.S. state of Delaware. The Department is in charge of a wide variety of public and governmental services, and is divided into the following divisions:* * * * *...
|Executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
|Dover
Dover, Delaware
The city of Dover is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, and the principal city of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County. It is located on the St. Jones River in the Delaware...
|January 15, 1941
|January 3, 1943
|
|-
|U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
|Legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
|Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
|January 3, 1943
|January 3, 1945
|
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |United States Congressional service
|-
! Dates
! Congress
! Chamber
! Majority
! President
! Committees
! Class/District
|-
|1943–1945
|78th
78th United States Congress
The Seventy-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1943 to January 3, 1945, during the last two years...
|U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
|Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
|Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
|
|at-large
Delaware's At-large congressional district
Delaware's At-large congressional district is a congressional district that includes the entire U.S. state of Delaware.It is currently represented by Democrat John C. Carney, Jr., the former Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.-Voting:-History:...
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Election results
|-
| Year
| Office
|
| Subject
| Party
| Votes
| %
|
| Opponent
| Party
| Votes
| %
|-
|1940
|Lt. Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
The Lieutenant Governor of Delaware is the second ranking executive officer of the U.S. state of Delaware. Lieutenant Governors are elected for a term of four years in the same general election as the U.S. President and take office the following January....
|
| |Earle D. Willey
| |Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
| |
| |
|
| |Isaac J. MacCollum
Isaac J. MacCollum
Dr. Isaac James MacCollum was an American physician and politician from Wyoming, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party who served as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.-Early life and family:...
| |Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
| |
| |
|-
|1942
|U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
|
| |Earle D. Willey
| |Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
| |45,376
| |54%
|
| |Philip A. Traynor
Philip A. Traynor
Dr. Philip Andrew Traynor was an American dentist and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party and served two terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware....
| |Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
| |38,791
| |46%
|-
|1944
|U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
|
| |Earle D. Willey
| |Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
| |62,378
| |49%
|
| |Philip A. Traynor
Philip A. Traynor
Dr. Philip Andrew Traynor was an American dentist and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party and served two terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware....
| |Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
| |63,649
| |50%
External links
- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Delaware's Members of Congress
- Find a Grave
- Political Graveyard
Places with more information
- Delaware Historical SocietyDelaware Historical SocietyThe Delaware Historical Society began in 1864 as an effort to preserve documents from the Civil War. Since then, it has expanded into a state-wide historical institution with several venues and a major museum in Wilmington and the historic Read House & Gardens in New Castle.The society...
; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161 - University of DelawareUniversity of DelawareThe university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965 - Newark Free Library 750 Library Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 731-7550.