Oswald D. Heck
Encyclopedia
Oswald D. Heck was an American lawyer and politician.
He was a Republican member from Schenectady County of the New York State Assembly
from 1932 to 1959, and was Speaker
from 1937 until his death in office. Heck was the last Speaker from Upstate New York
. As of 2011, he is also the longest-tenured Assembly speaker in New York State history; current speaker Sheldon Silver
is slated to surpass Heck in 2018, assuming that Silver's Democratic Party retains power in the chamber and that Silver both stays alive and wins re-election in 2012, 2014, and 2016 (as of 2011, these are near certainties, given Silver's state of good health and the gerrymandering
of the state assembly borders). http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/04/silver-im-staying
He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1944, 1948, 1952 and 1956.
He died of a heart attack, and was buried at the Vale Cemetery in Schenectady, N.Y.
Life
In 1933, he married Beulah W. Slocum.He was a Republican member from Schenectady County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1932 to 1959, and was Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
from 1937 until his death in office. Heck was the last Speaker from Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. As of 2011, he is also the longest-tenured Assembly speaker in New York State history; current speaker Sheldon Silver
Sheldon Silver
Sheldon "Shelly" Silver is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from New York. He has held the office of Speaker of the New York State Assembly since 1994.- Personal life :...
is slated to surpass Heck in 2018, assuming that Silver's Democratic Party retains power in the chamber and that Silver both stays alive and wins re-election in 2012, 2014, and 2016 (as of 2011, these are near certainties, given Silver's state of good health and the gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
of the state assembly borders). http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/04/silver-im-staying
He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1944, 1948, 1952 and 1956.
He died of a heart attack, and was buried at the Vale Cemetery in Schenectady, N.Y.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/heathman-hedlund.html Political Graveyard
- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,811174,00.html Obit notice in TIME magazine on June 1, 1959