J. Irving Whalley
Encyclopedia
John Irving Whalley was a Republican
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.
. A go-getter from the start, Whalley took his first job at age 10 in a Windber, Pennsylvania
grocery store. By age 14 he was working at the local Ford
garage.
Twelve years later he owned the dealership, after having worked as a mechanic, salesman, bookkeeper, delivery man and driving instructor. Whalley purchased a second dealership three years later, and would open or acquire 11 more before World War II
. He eventually established a chain of 13 automobile dealerships in central and western Pennsylvania.
and campaigned for better highways everywhere.
He was a member of advisory board of Johnstown College branch of the University of Pittsburgh
. He was chairman of the Somerset County
Redevelopment Authority and the Windber
Planning Commission. He served as a member of the Windber School Board from 1935 to 1947. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1951 to 1955 and served in the Pennsylvania State Senate
from 1955 to 1960. He was appointed by President Richard Nixon
to serve as delegate to United Nations
for the 1969 session.
and to the Eighty-seventh
Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Douglas H. Elliott, and reelected to the four succeeding Congresses. He was instrumental in the development of legislation for better highways. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1972
.
He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
in 1981.
Whalley died at age 77 and is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown
.
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...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Early life and business activities
J. Irving Whalley was born in Barnesboro, PennsylvaniaBarnesboro, Pennsylvania
Barnesboro, Pennsylvania was a borough located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA. The area was first settled by Europeans in the early-to-middle 19th century. The presence of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River allowed loggers to move their harvest down stream...
. A go-getter from the start, Whalley took his first job at age 10 in a Windber, Pennsylvania
Windber, Pennsylvania
Windber is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, eight miles south of Johnstown. It was at one time a place of industrial activities which included coal mining, lumbering, and the manufacture of fire brick. In 1897, the community was founded by coal barons Charles and Edward Julius Berwind...
grocery store. By age 14 he was working at the local Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
garage.
Twelve years later he owned the dealership, after having worked as a mechanic, salesman, bookkeeper, delivery man and driving instructor. Whalley purchased a second dealership three years later, and would open or acquire 11 more before 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...
. He eventually established a chain of 13 automobile dealerships in central and western Pennsylvania.
Public service
An interest in community service prompted Whalley to run for elective office, where he campaigned on issues related to the automotive industry. He fought against taxes that were considered unfair to new car buyers. Whalley also secured support for improvements to the Pennsylvania turnpikePennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
and campaigned for better highways everywhere.
He was a member of advisory board of Johnstown College branch of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. He was chairman of the Somerset County
Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,...
Redevelopment Authority and the Windber
Windber, Pennsylvania
Windber is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, eight miles south of Johnstown. It was at one time a place of industrial activities which included coal mining, lumbering, and the manufacture of fire brick. In 1897, the community was founded by coal barons Charles and Edward Julius Berwind...
Planning Commission. He served as a member of the Windber School Board from 1935 to 1947. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1951 to 1955 and served in the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
from 1955 to 1960. He was appointed by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to serve as delegate to United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
for the 1969 session.
House of Representatives
He elected as a Republican to the Eighty-sixth86th United States Congress
The Eighty-sixth 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, 1959 to January 3, 1961, during the last two years...
and to the Eighty-seventh
87th United States Congress
-House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Richard Nixon , until January 20, 1961** Lyndon Johnson , from January 20, 1961* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden -House of Representatives:...
Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Douglas H. Elliott, and reelected to the four succeeding Congresses. He was instrumental in the development of legislation for better highways. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1972
United States House election, 1972
The U.S. House election, 1972 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1972 which coincided with the landslide re-election victory of President Richard M. Nixon...
.
He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
Automotive Hall of Fame
The Automotive Hall of Fame is an American museum and hall of fame covering automotive innovations.-Location:Located in the metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, the museum shares a parking lot with The Henry Ford.-External links:*...
in 1981.
Whalley died at age 77 and is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown
Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown
Grandview Cemetery is a cemetery located at 801 Millcreek Road in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.The cemetery association that operates Grandview was founded in 1885 to accommodate Johnstown's rapidly growing population...
.