Francis T. Purcell
Encyclopedia
Francis Thomas Purcell is a former Republican
politician who was county executive of Nassau County, New York
, United States
from 1978 to 1987. Purcell served as a Village Trustee and Mayor
of the Village of Malverne
, a member of the New York State Assembly
, Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead and Presiding Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead before becoming County Executive in 1978. After resigning in 1987, Purcell became a political commentator for Cablevision's news channel News 12 Long Island
.
In 2004, a section of land formerly called Hempstead Plains was dedicated to Purcell in honor of his service and dedication to Nassau County.
High School, he was signed to play baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers but never played for them because he joined the army
in 1941. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of captain.
of Malverne in 1955. In 1964, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, although he was not the Republican Party's
choice for the seat. He was elected to the post of town supervisor of the Town of Hempstead three successive times, starting in 1965.
He was elected to the post of County Executive of Nassau County
, in 1977. He secured the nomination of the Republican Party over fellow Republican and incumbent county executive Ralph G. Caso
, who also opposed Purcell in the general election. He took office in January 1978.
Purcell easily won re-election in 1981 and 1985. In December 1986, near the end of the first year of his third term, he announced his retirement from politics and his intention to join Cablevision as a political analyst and commentator.
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...
politician who was county executive of Nassau County, New York
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1978 to 1987. Purcell served as a Village Trustee and Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Village of Malverne
Malverne, New York
Malverne is a village in the town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 8,514 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
, a member 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...
, Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead and Presiding Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead before becoming County Executive in 1978. After resigning in 1987, Purcell became a political commentator for Cablevision's news channel News 12 Long Island
News 12 Networks
News 12 Networks comprises seven regional cable news television channels in the New York metropolitan area. The channels offer local news 24-hours a day and reach approximately 3.8 million television households in the tri-state area...
.
In 2004, a section of land formerly called Hempstead Plains was dedicated to Purcell in honor of his service and dedication to Nassau County.
Early life
Purcell was born to Thomas (d. 1942) and Annette (d. 1972) Purcell on 11 August 1918 in Brooklyn, New York. A star athlete at MalverneMalverne, New York
Malverne is a village in the town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 8,514 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
High School, he was signed to play baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers but never played for them because he joined the army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1941. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of captain.
Career
Purcell was elected mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Malverne in 1955. In 1964, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, although he was not the Republican Party's
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...
choice for the seat. He was elected to the post of town supervisor of the Town of Hempstead three successive times, starting in 1965.
He was elected to the post of County Executive of Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, in 1977. He secured the nomination of the Republican Party over fellow Republican and incumbent county executive Ralph G. Caso
Ralph G. Caso
-Life:Caso graduated from New York University School of Law and served in World War II. After the war, he practiced law in Merrick, New York. He was a supervisor of the Town of Hempstead from 1961 to 1965, and Presiding Supervisor from 1965 to 1970...
, who also opposed Purcell in the general election. He took office in January 1978.
Purcell easily won re-election in 1981 and 1985. In December 1986, near the end of the first year of his third term, he announced his retirement from politics and his intention to join Cablevision as a political analyst and commentator.