Frank W. Burke
Encyclopedia
Frank Welsh Burke was an American politician
who served as a Democratic
member of the United States House of Representatives
from Kentucky
from 1959 to 1963 and as Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky from 1969 to 1973.
and educated in parochial there, graduating from St. Xavier High School. He attended the University of Southern California
and received a degree from Xavier University
and a law degree from the University of Louisville
. He began practicing law in Louisville in 1948. Burke served in the United States Army
during World War II
. Burke held appointed local offices under mayor Charles R. Farnsley
including as assistant city attorney of Louisville in 1950 and 1951, director of public safety of Louisville in 1952, and executive assistant to the Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky in 1952 and 1953.
and served there in 1957 and 1958.
In 1958 Burke was elected to the United States House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 3rd District (Louisville). Burke defeated incumbent Republican John M. Robsion, Jr.
for the seat. Burke was re-elected to the House seat in 1960 and served from January 3, 1959 to January 3, 1963. Burke won his re-election race by 221 votes.
He was defeated in a close race for re-election in 1962 by Gene Snyder
; Snyder won 93,627 votes to Burke's 91,062.
In 1969, Republicans had controlled county and city offices in Louisville for eight years. Burke, a Democrat, was elected Mayor of Louisville that year, winning 48,337 votes to Republican
John Porter Sawyer's 40,810. Burke served in that office from 1969 to 1973. Burke's priorities included reducing crime; he increased the size of the police force and installed many new street lights and the crime rate in Louisville dropped while Burke was mayor. Burke also increased garbage pickups and the sewers and pushed the construction of the Louisville Belvedere
. Burke also instituted a retirement system for city employees. As mayor, he integrated the city's workforce.
until 2005. He died in June 2007.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
who served as a 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...
member of the United States House of Representatives
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...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
from 1959 to 1963 and as Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky from 1969 to 1973.
Early life and career
Burke was born in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and educated in parochial there, graduating from St. Xavier High School. He attended the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and received a degree from Xavier University
Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
and a law degree from the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
. He began practicing law in Louisville in 1948. Burke served in the United States 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...
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...
. Burke held appointed local offices under mayor Charles R. Farnsley
Charles R. Farnsley
Charles Rowland Peaslee "Charlie" Farnsley , a Democrat, served as mayor of Louisville, Kentucky and as a member of the United States House of Representatives....
including as assistant city attorney of Louisville in 1950 and 1951, director of public safety of Louisville in 1952, and executive assistant to the Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky in 1952 and 1953.
Political career
Burke was elected to the Kentucky House of RepresentativesKentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
and served there in 1957 and 1958.
In 1958 Burke was elected to the United States House of Representatives
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...
from Kentucky's 3rd District (Louisville). Burke defeated incumbent Republican John M. Robsion, Jr.
John M. Robsion, Jr.
John Marshall Robsion, Jr. , a Republican, was a United States Representative from Kentucky from 1953 to 1959 and was the Republican nominee for Governor of Kentucky in 1959.Robsion was born in Barbourville...
for the seat. Burke was re-elected to the House seat in 1960 and served from January 3, 1959 to January 3, 1963. Burke won his re-election race by 221 votes.
He was defeated in a close race for re-election in 1962 by Gene Snyder
Gene Snyder
Marion Eugene Snyder was an American politician elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives from two different districts in Kentucky....
; Snyder won 93,627 votes to Burke's 91,062.
In 1969, Republicans had controlled county and city offices in Louisville for eight years. Burke, a Democrat, was elected Mayor of Louisville that year, winning 48,337 votes to 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...
John Porter Sawyer's 40,810. Burke served in that office from 1969 to 1973. Burke's priorities included reducing crime; he increased the size of the police force and installed many new street lights and the crime rate in Louisville dropped while Burke was mayor. Burke also increased garbage pickups and the sewers and pushed the construction of the Louisville Belvedere
Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere
Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere is a public area on the Ohio River in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Although proposed as early as 1930, the project did not get off the ground until $13.5 million in funding was secured in 1969 to revitalize the downtown area . On April 27, 1973 the Riverfront...
. Burke also instituted a retirement system for city employees. As mayor, he integrated the city's workforce.
Later life
Burke continued to practice law in Kentucky with Wyatt, Tarrant & CombsWyatt, Tarrant & Combs
Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP is one of the largest law firms in the Southeastern United States. The firm has more than 200 attorneys in eight offices in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado and Indiana.-Notable lawyers and alumni:...
until 2005. He died in June 2007.