Edwin Benedict Dooley (April 13, 1905 – January 25, 1982) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Edwin B. Dooley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 26th district
In office
January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1963
Preceded byRalph A. Gamble
Succeeded byOgden Reid
Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission
In office
1966–1975
Preceded byMelvin Krulewitch
Succeeded byJames A. Farley Jr.
Mayor of Mamaroneck, New York
In office
1951–1956
Preceded byBattista J. Santoro
Succeeded byAlexander Schwab
Personal details
Born
Edwin Benedict Dooley

(1905-04-13)April 13, 1905
Brooklyn, New York, US
DiedJanuary 25, 1982(1982-01-25) (aged 76)
Boca Raton, Florida, US
Resting placeGate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, New York
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Harriette M. Feeley
Anita M. Gilles
Margaret Sheffel
ChildrenEdwin B. Dooley, Jr.
EducationDartmouth College
Fordham University School of Law

Early life

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Edwin B. "Eddie" Dooley was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 13, 1905.[1] He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1927, and was an All American as quarterback of the football team.[2] He graduated from Fordham University School of Law in 1930.[3]

Start of career

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Dooley was a feature writer on sports for the New York Sun from 1927 until 1938, and was a radio sports broadcaster in New York City from 1936 to 1948. From 1938 to 1955 Dooley pursued a career as a public relations executive for General Foods.[4][5][6]

During World War II Dooley served as a member of committees on food production and distribution for the War and Navy departments.[7]

Political career

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Dooley was a trustee of the village of Mamaroneck from 1942 to 1946, and mayor from 1951 until 1956.[8]

In 1956 Dooley was a successful candidate for the United States House. He was reelected in 1958 and 1960, and served from January 3, 1957, until January 3, 1963. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1962.[9] Dooley voted in favor of the civil rights acts of 1957 and 1960,[10][11] but voted present on the 24th Amendment to ban poll taxes.[12]

Post-Congressional career

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After leaving Congress, Dooley returned to his career in public relations and worked as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. From 1966 to 1975 he served as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission. In this role, he generated controversy when he suspended the boxing license of Muhammad Ali for refusing to be drafted into the Army. In 1972, he changed the policy on access for women sports journalists, permitting them to occupy seats reserved for the press and to enter dressing rooms provided that male athletes were properly attired.[13]

Death and burial

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He died in Boca Raton, Florida, on January 25, 1982.[14] He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at the family grave site in Hawthorne's Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Family

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Dooley met his first wife, Harriette M. Feeley of Norwich, Vermont, while they were in college, and they married in 1926.[15][16] After her death in 1952 he married Anita M. Gilles, who died in 1962. His third wife, Margaret Sheffel, survived him, as did his son, Edwin B. Dooley Jr. (1933–2008).

References

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  1. ^ America's Young Men, Volume 3, 1938, page 162. Richard Blank Publishing Company.
  2. ^ Dooley, Edwin B. (October 1928). "A Play That Made Football Over". Popular Science Monthly. page 45.
  3. ^ Fordham University School of Law, Law School Bulletins, 1905-2000: Bulletin of Information 1930-1931, September 1, 1930, page 20.
  4. ^ "Biography, Edwin B. Dooley" Boys' Life. September 1937. page 3.
  5. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1935, page 158.
  6. ^ The Controller. 13. 1945. Controllers Institute of America. page 277.
  7. ^ Official Congressional Directory. U.S. Government Printing Office. 87 (2). 1962. page 112.
  8. ^ "Worried 'Bosses' Offered State Job As Reward To Quit, Dooley Charges". Yonkers Herald Statesman. April 24, 1962.
  9. ^ "Bronx Democratic Leader Renominated". The Progress-Index. Associated Press. September 7, 1962.
  10. ^ "HR 6127. Civil Rights Act of 1957". GovTrack.us.
  11. ^ "HR 8601. Passage".
  12. ^ "S.J. Res. 29. Constitutional Amendment to Ban the Use of Poll Tax As a Requirement for Voting in Federal Elections". GovTrack.us.
  13. ^ Gallo, Bill (April 13, 1997). "Memories of Robby the Commish". Daily News.
  14. ^ Fowler, Glenn (January 27, 1982). "Edwin B. Dooley is Dead at 76; Headed Athletic Commission". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Who's Who Among the Young Men of the Nation, Volume 2, 1936, page 139. Richard Blank Publishing Company.
  16. ^ , "Milestones: Oct. 25, 1926". Time. October 25, 1926.

Sources

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 26th congressional district

1957–1963
Succeeded by