James F. Hastings

James F. Hastings
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 39th district
In office January 3, 1973 – January 20, 1976
Preceded by	Jack Kemp
Succeeded by	Stanley N. Lundine
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 38th district
In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	Charles E. Goodell
Succeeded by	Jack Kemp
Member of the New York Senate from the 57th district
In office January 1, 1967 – December 31, 1968
Preceded by	Thomas Laverne
Succeeded by	Jess J. Present
Member of the New York Senate from the 65th district
In office January 1, 1966 – December 31, 1966
Preceded by	None (district created)
Succeeded by	None (district eliminated)
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Cattaraugus district
In office January 1, 1963 – December 31, 1965
Preceded by	Jeremiah J. Moriarty
Succeeded by	None (district eliminated)
Personal details
Born	James Fred Hastings (1926-04-10)April 10, 1926 Olean, New York, U.S.
Died	October 24, 2014(2014-10-24) (aged 88) Allegany, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Barbara Gaylor Kathleen Smith
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1943–1946
Battles/wars	World War II

James Fred Hastings (April 10, 1926 – October 24, 2014) was an American radio station executive and politician from New York.

Early life

Hastings was born on April 10, 1926, in Olean, New York. He graduated from Allegany Central School in 1943, and joined the United States Navy for World War II. After he returned home in 1946 he worked as a carpenter, and then worked as a sales representative for Procter & Gamble.

Hastings later became active in several businesses, including manager and vice president of radio station WHDL from 1952-1966, national advertising manager for the Times Herald newspaper in Olean from 1964-1966, and a partner in the real estate and insurance firm of Hastings & Jewell.

He was a member of the Allegany Town Board from 1953 to 1962, and was the town's police court justice for five years.

Political career

Hastings was a member the New York State Assembly (Cattaraugus Co.) from 1963 to 1965, sitting in the 174th and 175th New York State Legislatures; and a member of the New York State Senate from 1966 to 1968, sitting in the 176th and 177th New York State Legislatures. He was a delegate to the 1968 and 1972 Republican National Conventions.

He was elected as a Republican to the 91st, 92nd, 93rd and 94th United States Congresses, holding office from January 3, 1969, to January 20, 1976, when he resigned to become the president of the Associated Industries trade group in Albany, New York.

Later in 1976, Hastings was accused of taking kickbacks from three employees and using the funds to purchase vehicles, snowmobiles, and boats as well as contributing to his children's college tuition and a New York state retirement fund He was convicted of mail fraud and filing false payroll information in December 1976 and served 14 months in the United States Penitentiary, Allenwood.

Later life

After his release from prison, Hastings lived in retirement in Belleair Beach, Florida until returning to Allegany in 1998.

Death

He died on October 24, 2014, in Allegany, New York.

Sources

• United States Congress. "James F. Hastings (id: H000327)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.