Wayne Dumont
Encyclopedia
Wayne Dumont, Jr. was an American
Republican Party
politician from New Jersey
. He served in the New Jersey Senate
for more than 30 years, representing the 15th Legislative District
until 1982 and the 24th Legislative District
until his retirement in 1990. He was the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey
in 1965.
, New Jersey
in 1914. He graduated from Montclair Academy (now Montclair Kimberley Academy
), then went on to Lafayette College
in Easton, Pennsylvania
. After graduating, he became a minor league pitcher for the former St. Louis Browns
but decided to study law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
. After receiving his law degree he moved to Phillipsburg
in 1940, where he began practicing law.
Dumont was elected in 1951 as a Republican to represent Warren County
in the New Jersey Senate
; and was re-elected in 1955, 1959 and 1963, during which time he served as Senate Majority Leader, Senate President and Acting Governor of New Jersey
. He was responsible for sponsoring well over 500 bills during his legislative career including the state's first school aid bill and farmland preservation law.
After failing to win the Republican nomination for Governor in the 1957 and 1961 primaries, he was successful in 1965 with 50.4% against fellow State Senator Charles W. Sandman becoming the nominee against Governor Richard J. Hughes
, and lost. He had made a campaign issue out of the pro-Marxist speeches of a Rutgers University
professor, Eugene D. Genovese
and supported the institution of a state sales tax.
Dumont returned to the State Senate in 1967 and remained until his retirement in July 1990. He won reelection in 1977, despite his opponents focus on Dumont's support for the state income tax.
Dumont died at the age of 77 on March 19, 1992, due to congestive heart failure
suffered at Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, New Jersey
. He was survived by his wife, the former Helen S. Williamson (married September 19, 1938), and their son W. Hunt Dumont
(born August 12, 1941), who served as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
from 1981 to 1985.
The Warren County Administration Building in Belvidere, New Jersey
is named after Dumont.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican Party
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 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...
. He 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...
for more than 30 years, representing the 15th Legislative District
15th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 15th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Mercer County municipalities of Ewing Township, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Pennington Borough, Princeton Borough, Princeton Township and Trenton...
until 1982 and the 24th Legislative District
24th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 24th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Hunterdon County municipalities of Califon Borough, the Morris County municipalities of Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mount Olive Township, and Netcong Borough, Morris County, New Jersey|Washington Township]] and...
until his retirement in 1990. He was the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
in 1965.
Biography
Dumont was born in PatersonPaterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, 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...
in 1914. He graduated from Montclair Academy (now Montclair Kimberley Academy
Montclair Kimberley Academy
Montclair Kimberley Academy, abbreviated "MKA", is a private coeducational day school located in Montclair, New Jersey, serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. Thomas W. Nammack became the school's fourth Headmaster in July 2005...
), then went on to Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
in Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
. After graduating, he became a minor league pitcher for the former St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
but decided to study law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Law School, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Ivy League, it is among the oldest and most selective law schools in the nation. It is currently ranked 7th overall by U.S. News & World Report,...
. After receiving his law degree he moved to Phillipsburg
Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Phillipsburg, known locally as P'burg, is a town in Warren County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 14,950....
in 1940, where he began practicing law.
Dumont was elected in 1951 as a Republican to represent Warren County
Warren County, New Jersey
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 108,692. Its county seat is Belvidere...
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 was re-elected in 1955, 1959 and 1963, during which time he served as Senate Majority Leader, Senate President and Acting Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. He was responsible for sponsoring well over 500 bills during his legislative career including the state's first school aid bill and farmland preservation law.
After failing to win the Republican nomination for Governor in the 1957 and 1961 primaries, he was successful in 1965 with 50.4% against fellow State Senator Charles W. Sandman becoming the nominee against Governor Richard J. Hughes
Richard J. Hughes
Richard Joseph Hughes was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 45th Governor of New Jersey from 1962 to 1970, and as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973–1979...
, and lost. He had made a campaign issue out of the pro-Marxist speeches of a Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
professor, Eugene D. Genovese
Eugene D. Genovese
Eugene Dominic Genovese is an American historian of the American South and American slavery. He has been noted for bringing a Marxist perspective to the study of power, class and relations between planters and slaves in the South. His work Roll, Jordan, Roll: The World the Slaves Made won the...
and supported the institution of a state sales tax.
Dumont returned to the State Senate in 1967 and remained until his retirement in July 1990. He won reelection in 1977, despite his opponents focus on Dumont's support for the state income tax.
Dumont died at the age of 77 on March 19, 1992, due to congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
suffered at Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Phillipsburg, known locally as P'burg, is a town in Warren County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 14,950....
. He was survived by his wife, the former Helen S. Williamson (married September 19, 1938), and their son W. Hunt Dumont
W. Hunt Dumont
align="right"|Wayne Hunt Dumont is an American lawyer and judge who served as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1981 to 1985.-Biography:...
(born August 12, 1941), who served as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey is the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey. Paul J. Fishman was sworn into office as U.S. Attorney on October 14, 2009 after having been nominated by President Barack Obama. He succeeded Ralph J. Marra, who served as Acting U.S....
from 1981 to 1985.
The Warren County Administration Building in Belvidere, New Jersey
Belvidere, New Jersey
Belvidere is a Town in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 2,681. It is the county seat of Warren County....
is named after Dumont.
External links
- Executive order memorializing Wayne Dumont, Governor James J. Florio, March 20, 1992
- Administrative History of the Teach-ins at Rutgers University, Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers UniversityRutgers UniversityRutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
Libraries, April 27, 1992