Richard J. Coffee
Encyclopedia
Richard J. Coffee is an American
Democratic Party
politician
from New Jersey
who served in the New Jersey Senate
and as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
.
. He attended Princeton High School
and the Merchant Marine Academy
. He served as an ensign
in the Merchant Marine
during World War II
.
His political career began in 1954 when he was elected to the Lawrence Township Committee. He served as Mayor of Lawrence Township, New Jersey in 1957. He was elected to the Mercer County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
in 1955 and served for 12 years. As freeholder, Coffee fought to establish a park system for Mercer County. He was instrumental in the creation of the Mercer County Park Commission in 1964. He also helped establish Mercer County Community College
in 1966.
In 1967, he was elected to the New Jersey Senate
for a four-year term. In the Senate he was a member of the Joint Appropriations Committee and the Assistant Minority Leader. He went on to serve 17 years as Executive Director of the General Assembly
Democratic Office.
Coffee served as Mercer County Democratic chairman from 1969 to 1981, and was the state chairman from 1977 to 1981.
On October 15, 2009, Coffee was honored by Mercer County Park
, which was renamed Richard J. Coffee Mercer County Park in his honor for acquiring the land in the 1950s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
who served in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
and as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
The New Jersey Democratic State Committee is the New Jersey state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party.New Jersey Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski is the Chairman and Camden Mayor Dana Redd is the Vice-Chairwoman. They were elected on January 27, 2010.-Party structure:The NJDSC is the...
.
Biography
Coffee was born in 1925 in Lawrence TownshipLawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Area residents often refer to all of Lawrence Township as Lawrenceville. Lawrenceville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lawrence Township...
. He attended Princeton High School
Princeton High School (New Jersey)
Princeton High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Princeton Regional Schools district, which serves all public school students in the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township...
and the Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States Service academies...
. He served as an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
His political career began in 1954 when he was elected to the Lawrence Township Committee. He served as Mayor of Lawrence Township, New Jersey in 1957. He was elected to the Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
in 1955 and served for 12 years. As freeholder, Coffee fought to establish a park system for Mercer County. He was instrumental in the creation of the Mercer County Park Commission in 1964. He also helped establish Mercer County Community College
Mercer County Community College
Mercer County Community College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Mercer County, New Jersey. The school's current president is Dr. Patricia C. Donohue...
in 1966.
In 1967, he was elected to the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
for a four-year term. In the Senate he was a member of the Joint Appropriations Committee and the Assistant Minority Leader. He went on to serve 17 years as Executive Director of the General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
Democratic Office.
Coffee served as Mercer County Democratic chairman from 1969 to 1981, and was the state chairman from 1977 to 1981.
On October 15, 2009, Coffee was honored by Mercer County Park
Mercer County Park
Mercer County Park is a recreational park located mostly within West Windsor Township, New Jersey. Mercer County Park encompasses over covering areas of the Townships of West Windsor, Hamilton and Lawrence. It is the home for the US Olympic Rowing Team's training center...
, which was renamed Richard J. Coffee Mercer County Park in his honor for acquiring the land in the 1950s.
External links
- Biographical information for Richard J. Coffee from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...