C. Gerald Lucey
C. Gerald Lucey | |
---|---|
Mayor of Brockton, Massachusetts | |
In office 1952–1956 | |
Preceded by | Melvin B. Clifford |
Succeeded by | Hjalmar Peterson |
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 8th Plymouth District | |
In office 1947–1953 | |
Preceded by | Harvey Iris |
Succeeded by | James R. Lawton |
Personal details | |
Born | Brockton, Massachusetts | September 8, 1913
Died | October 20, 1989 New Haven, Connecticut | (aged 76)
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | Providence College Suffolk University Law School |
Profession | Salesman[1] Mayor Transportation executive |
C. Gerald Lucey was an American politician who served as Mayor of Brockton, Massachusetts and was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Early life
Lucey was born on September 8, 1913 in Brockton.[1] His father, Charles Lucey, served as a member of the Brockton board of alderman and was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor.[2] Lucey attended Brockton High School, Providence College, and Suffolk University Law School.[1]
Political career
Municipal office
In 1936, Lucey was elected to the Brockton city council.[1] In 1937, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Brockton board of aldermen in Ward 2.[3] He returned to the council in 1942, but left later that year to enlist in the United States Army.[1][4] He served in the 6th General Hospital in North Africa and Italy during World War II.[4]
In 1947, Lucey was a candidate for mayor of Brockton, but lost to incumbent Joseph H. Downey.[5] In 1951, he again ran for mayor. This time he was successful, defeating incumbent Melvin B. Clifford 14,667 votes to 14,232.[6] During his tenure as mayor, Brockton built four junior high schools and Lucey was credited with attracting a Veterans Administration medical center to the city.[4] Lucey was elected to a second term as mayor in 1953. He defeated Republican Paul Keith 13,958 votes to 11,911. Sticker candidate George F. Rodenbush received 2,183 votes.[7] In 1955, Lucey was defeated in his bid for reelection by Hjalmar Peterson 17,120 votes to 12,323.[8]
In 1963, Lucey once again ran for mayor, but was unsuccessful.[9]
Massachusetts House of Representatives
In 1946, Lucey was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[1] In 1952, Lucey was drafted to run for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts by fifty of his House colleagues.[10] He finished a distant second place in the Democratic primary behind incumbent Charles F. Sullivan.[11]
Later life and death
After leaving office, Lucey worked as executive vice president of Peerless Transportation of Holbrook, Massachusetts. He eventually left Brockton and moved to Orange, Connecticut. Lucey died on October 20, 1989 at St. Raphael's Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut.[4]
Lucey's niece, Claire D. Cronin, is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[12]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1951-1952. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
- ^ "Chas. Lucey, Was Alderman In Brockton". The Boston Globe. May 12, 1966.
- ^ "Rowe, McCaffrey Named for Mayor in Brockton". The Boston Daily Globe. November 17, 1937.
- ^ a b c d "C. Gerald Lucey, 76; Was Brockton Mayor, Legislator". The Boston Globe. October 21, 1989.
- ^ "Nominated for Mayor". The Boston Globe. October 8, 1947.
- ^ "City Police Watch State Police Watching Ballots in Brockton". The Boston Daily Globe. November 8, 1951.
- ^ "Mayor Lucey Leads Vote in Brockton". The Boston Daily Globe. November 4, 1953.
- ^ "Peterson Upsets Lucey for Mayor". The Boston Daily Globe. November 9, 1955.
- ^ Powers, Richard (September 29, 1963). "6 Seeking Brockton Mayoral Nomination". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "50 Democrats in Bid to Draft Lucey Into Lt. Governor Race". The Boston Daily Globe. July 4, 1952.
- ^ Election Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1952.
- ^ Preer, Robert (May 27, 2012). "4 Democrats vie to succeed Creedon as representative". The Boston Globe.
- 1913 births
- 1989 deaths
- American transportation businesspeople
- Massachusetts Democrats
- Massachusetts lawyers
- Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
- Mayors of Brockton, Massachusetts
- People from Orange, Connecticut
- Providence College alumni
- Suffolk University Law School alumni
- American army personnel of World War II
- 20th-century American politicians
- United States Army soldiers