Richard H. Balch
Encyclopedia
Richard Horrocks Balch was an upstate New York
businessman and political figure.
He was born on March 2, 1901 in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Utica Free Academy
in 1917. He was a 1921 graduate of Williams College
, and a member of the Phi Delta Theta
fraternity.
From 1927 to 1942 Balch was Vice President of the Horrocks-Ibbotson Company, the world's largest fishing tackle manufacturer, and he was President of the company from 1942 until his 1968 retirement.
He was a civic activist, serving on Utica's
Board of Education, Water Resources Board, Red Cross, and Chamber of Commerce, and was a founder of Utica College
. Balch was also a leader of the Oneida County group that carried out a successful effort in the 1940s and 1950s to attract new industry to the area to replace textiles mills that had relocated to the southern states.
Balch was active in the Democratic party
, attending several conventions as an alternate or delegate, including the national conventions of 1940 (alternate), 1944, 1948, 1952 and 1964. In 1943 he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Mayor of Utica, and in 1944 he was elected Chairman of the city's Democratic committee.
In 1950 he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, losing with gubernatorial candidate Walter A. Lynch
to the Republican ticket of Thomas E. Dewey and Frank C. Moore
.
In 1952 Balch headed W. Averell Harriman
's campaign for President of the United States
. Balch managed the Harriman effort at the Democratic national convention
in Chicago
, and his candidate was in fourth place with 123 delegates when he withdrew in favor of Adlai Stevenson, who went on to obtain the nomination.
Balch was elected Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee
in 1952, holding the post until 1955. Balch was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1954, but withdrew before the party convention that selected Harriman as its candidate. Balch guided almost the entire Democratic ticket to victory that November, including Harriman as Governor, George B. DeLuca
as Lieutenant Governor, and Arthur Levitt
as Comptroller
. The only Democrat to lose statewide was Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., who ran unsuccessfully for Attorney General against Jacob Javits. (Main article: New York State Election, 1954)
From 1955 to 1960 Balch served as a member of the New York State Public Service Commission.
He died at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital Center in New Hartford, New York
on March 15, 1984.
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...
businessman and political figure.
He was born on March 2, 1901 in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Utica Free Academy
Utica Free Academy
Utica Free Academy was a high school in Utica, New York, United States.The building is now a nursing home, the Loretto Utica Center. Politician Dean Alfange attended the school.-Notable alumni:*Richard H. Balch, businessperson and politician...
in 1917. He was a 1921 graduate of Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, and a member of the Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
fraternity.
From 1927 to 1942 Balch was Vice President of the Horrocks-Ibbotson Company, the world's largest fishing tackle manufacturer, and he was President of the company from 1942 until his 1968 retirement.
He was a civic activist, serving on Utica's
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
Board of Education, Water Resources Board, Red Cross, and Chamber of Commerce, and was a founder of Utica College
Utica College
Utica College is a private university located in Utica, New York. The history of the college dates back to the 1930s when Syracuse University began offering extension courses in the Utica area. Syracuse University established Utica College as a four-year institution in 1946, and in 1995, UC ...
. Balch was also a leader of the Oneida County group that carried out a successful effort in the 1940s and 1950s to attract new industry to the area to replace textiles mills that had relocated to the southern states.
Balch was active in the 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...
, attending several conventions as an alternate or delegate, including the national conventions of 1940 (alternate), 1944, 1948, 1952 and 1964. In 1943 he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Mayor of Utica, and in 1944 he was elected Chairman of the city's Democratic committee.
In 1950 he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, losing with gubernatorial candidate Walter A. Lynch
Walter A. Lynch
Walter Aloysius Lynch was an American politician from New York.-Life:He graduated from Fordham University in 1915 and Fordham University School of Law in 1918...
to the Republican ticket of Thomas E. Dewey and Frank C. Moore
Frank C. Moore
Frank Charles Moore was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Conventions of 1938 and 1967...
.
In 1952 Balch headed W. Averell Harriman
W. Averell Harriman
William Averell Harriman was an American Democratic Party politician, businessman, and diplomat. He was the son of railroad baron E. H. Harriman. He served as Secretary of Commerce under President Harry S. Truman and later as the 48th Governor of New York...
's campaign for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Balch managed the Harriman effort at the Democratic national convention
1952 Democratic National Convention
The 1952 Democratic National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois from July 21 to July 26, 1952, which was the same arena the Republicans had gathered in a few weeks earlier for their national convention...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and his candidate was in fourth place with 123 delegates when he withdrew in favor of Adlai Stevenson, who went on to obtain the nomination.
Balch was elected Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee
New York State Democratic Committee
The New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
in 1952, holding the post until 1955. Balch was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1954, but withdrew before the party convention that selected Harriman as its candidate. Balch guided almost the entire Democratic ticket to victory that November, including Harriman as Governor, George B. DeLuca
George DeLuca
George Benjamin DeLuca was an American lawyer, banker and politician. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1955 to 1958.-Life:...
as Lieutenant Governor, and Arthur Levitt
Arthur Levitt, Sr.
Arthur Levitt was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He served in the U.S...
as Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
. The only Democrat to lose statewide was Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., who ran unsuccessfully for Attorney General against Jacob Javits. (Main article: New York State Election, 1954)
From 1955 to 1960 Balch served as a member of the New York State Public Service Commission.
He died at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital Center in New Hartford, New York
New Hartford (village), New York
New Hartford is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 1,886 at the 2000 census. The name was provided by early settlers for New Hartford, Connecticut....
on March 15, 1984.
Sources
- Newspaper article, This Week in History, Utica Observer-Dispatch, March 12, 2009
- Catalogue of Williams College, 1921–1922, published by Williams College, 1922, page 140
- The Scroll of Phi Delta Theta, published by Phi Delta Theta fraternity, 1921, Volume LXVI, Number 1, page 52
- Official Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention, published by the Democratic National Committee, 1940, page 120
- Machine Politics: a study of Albany's O'Connells, by Frank S. Robinson, 1977, page 98
- Newspaper article, Democrats Slate Experienced Men, New York Times, September 8, 1950
- Newspaper article, Balch to Guide Harriman Drive, New York Times, May 21, 1952
- Newspaper article, Harriman Arrives at Conclave Scene; Aspirant Confident, Says He Is Only Candidate to Back New and Fair Deal Issues, by Leo Egan, New York Times, July 18, 1952
- Newspaper article, Stevenson Winner On Third Ballot, Hartford Courant, July 26, 1952
- Newspaper column, My Day, by Eleanor Roosevelt, December 12, 1952, reprinted by Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project,
- Magazine column, Political Notes: Not a Knockout, Time Magazine, December 22, 1952
- Newspaper article, Balch is Entered in Governor Race: Upstate Group Offers Name of Democratic Chairman Without Consulting Him, New York Times, September 2, 1954
- Newspaper article, Harriman Gets Democratic Nod, Eugene (Oregon) Register-Guard, September 10, 1954
- Newspaper article, New York Campaign Rushing Toward Climax, Ocala (Florida) Star-Banner, October 31, 1954
- Newspaper article, Balch is Quitting State Party Post: Democratic Chairman to Join Public Service Commission, New York Times, June 15, 1955
- Newspaper article, Balch Takes Office as Member of PSC, New York Times, July 2, 1955
- Official Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention, published by the Democratic National Committee, 1956, page 529
- In Gotham's Shadow: Globalization and Community Change in Central New York, by Alexander R. Thomas, pages 36 to 37, 2003
- Annual Report of the Public Service Commission, published by New York State Public Service Commission, 1956, page 143
- The New York Red Book, 1960, Volume 69, page 666
- Newspaper article, R.H. Balch Resigns as PSC Member, New York Times, August 6, 1960
- Newspaper article, R.H. Balch is Dead, by Walter H. Waggoner, New York Times, March 17, 1984