William E. Ozzard
Encyclopedia
William E. Ozzard was an American
Republican Party
politician who served for 13 years in the New Jersey Legislature
, serving as New Jersey Senate
President in 1963. He was President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
from 1970 to 1973.
, New Jersey
. He grew up in Bound Brook, New Jersey
, and attended Bound Brook High School
, graduating in 1931. He graduated from Rutgers University
and New York University Law School. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar and joined the Somerville
law firm of Beekman & Beekman, where he later became a partner.
In World War II
, Ozzard served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army
. He received the Army Commendation Ribbon
, the European Campaign Medal
, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal
and two battle stars.
Ozzard was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
from Somerset County in 1953. In 1957, he succeeded Malcolm Forbes
in the New Jersey Senate
when Forbes ran for Governor of New Jersey
. He served as Senate President in 1963 and was Acting Governor in the absence of Governor Richard J. Hughes
. He left the Senate in 1967 and was appointed by Governor Hughes as a Commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
.
In 1969, Ozzard unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey. He lost the Republican primary to William T. Cahill
, also finishing behind U.S. Rep. Charles W. Sandman, Jr.
, State Sen. Harry L. Sears
, and State Sen. Frank X. McDermott
. Cahill went on to win the general election and in 1970 appointed Ozzard to be president of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners. He served until 1973.
Ozzard was admitted to the Florida bar in 1975. He died on June 29, 2002 at the age of 87. He was buried in Somerset Hills Memorial Park.
He was included in the first nominating class of the Bound Brook High School Alumni Hall of Fame upon its creation in 2003.
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 who served for 13 years in the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
, serving as 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...
President in 1963. He was President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is a regulatory authority in New Jersey charged with the responsibility of seeing that "safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey." The NJBPU regulates natural gas, electricity, water,...
from 1970 to 1973.
Biography
Ozzard was born in 1915 in WeehawkenWeehawken, New Jersey
Weehawken is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 12,554.-Geography:Weehawken is part of the New York metropolitan area...
, 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 grew up in Bound Brook, New Jersey
Bound Brook, New Jersey
Bound Brook is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. At the United States 2010 Census, the population was 10,402.Bound Brook was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 24, 1869, within portions of Bridgewater Township...
, and attended Bound Brook High School
Bound Brook High School
Bound Brook High School is a comprehensive community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Bound Brook, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Bound Brook School District....
, graduating in 1931. He graduated from 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...
and New York University Law School. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar and joined the Somerville
Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,098. It is the county seat of Somerset County....
law firm of Beekman & Beekman, where he later became a partner.
In 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...
, Ozzard served as a first lieutenant 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...
. He received the Army Commendation Ribbon
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
, the European Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
The Army of Occupation Medal is a military award of the United States military which was established by the United States War Department on 5 April 1946. The medal was created in the aftermath of the Second World War to recognize those who had performed occupation service in either Germany or Japan...
and two battle stars.
Ozzard was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
from Somerset County in 1953. In 1957, he succeeded Malcolm Forbes
Malcolm Forbes
Malcolm Stevenson Forbes was publisher of Forbes magazine, founded by his father B. C. Forbes and today run by his son Steve Forbes.-Life and career:...
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...
when Forbes ran 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...
. He served as Senate President in 1963 and was Acting Governor in the absence of 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...
. He left the Senate in 1967 and was appointed by Governor Hughes as a Commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is a regulatory authority in New Jersey charged with the responsibility of seeing that "safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey." The NJBPU regulates natural gas, electricity, water,...
.
In 1969, Ozzard unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey. He lost the Republican primary to William T. Cahill
William T. Cahill
William Thomas Cahill was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 46th Governor of New Jersey, from 1970 to 1974, and who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S...
, also finishing behind U.S. Rep. Charles W. Sandman, Jr.
Charles W. Sandman, Jr.
Charles William Sandman, Jr. was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives and was the party's candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 1973.-Biography:Sandman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, State Sen. Harry L. Sears
Harry L. Sears
Harry Lloyd Sears Jr. was an American lawyer and Republican Party politician who served for 10 years in the New Jersey Legislature...
, and State Sen. Frank X. McDermott
Frank X. McDermott
Francis "Frank" X. McDermott is a former American Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature.-Biography:McDermott was born in New York City in 1924...
. Cahill went on to win the general election and in 1970 appointed Ozzard to be president of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners. He served until 1973.
Ozzard was admitted to the Florida bar in 1975. He died on June 29, 2002 at the age of 87. He was buried in Somerset Hills Memorial Park.
He was included in the first nominating class of the Bound Brook High School Alumni Hall of Fame upon its creation in 2003.
External links
- William E. Ozzard at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...
- Bound Brook High School Alumni Association and Hall of Fame