William Francis Walsh
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 33rd district | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Howard W. Robison |
| Succeeded by | Gary A. Lee |
| 48th Mayor of Syracuse | |
| In office 1961–1969 | |
| Preceded by | Donald H. Mead |
| Succeeded by | Lee Alexander |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1912-07-11)July 11, 1912 Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 8, 2011(2011-01-08) (aged 98) Marcellus, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Dorsey Walsh |
| Children | 7 (including James T. Walsh) |
| Alma mater | St. Bonaventure University University at Buffalo |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1941–1946 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | United States Army Air Forces |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
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William Francis Walsh (July 11, 1912 – January 8, 2011) was a Republican-Conservative member of the United States House of Representatives from New York State.[1][2]
Walsh was born in Syracuse, New York, to Irish immigrant parents.[1][3] He graduated from St. Bonaventure's College, now St. Bonaventure University, in 1934.[1] He received a master's degree in social work from the University at Buffalo in 1949,[1] and an honorary doctorate in civil law from St. Bonaventure University in 1970.[1] He served in the United States Army Air Forces from 1941 to 1946,[1] first as a private, and later being honorably discharged as a captain.[1]
Walsh worked in social services, including serving as a field representative for the New York State Commission Against Discrimination.[4] He was appointed Welfare Commissioner of Onondaga County in New York State in 1959.[1] He was elected mayor of Syracuse in 1961,[1] and served until 1969.[1] He became more nationally known by serving as Vice President of the US Conference of Mayors.[2] He was a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention.[1][2] He was elected to Congress in 1972,[1][2] and served from January 3, 1973, until January 3, 1979.[1][2]
At St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York, the William F. Walsh Science Center was named in his honor in 2006 and dedicated in 2008.[5] The Center was built as a result of $10 million in federal monies[5] secured for its construction with the assistance of former United States Congress Member James T. Walsh,[1][5] William's son, who is also a Republican.[5]
Walsh was married to Mary Dorsey Walsh,[2] and had seven children,[2] all of whom pursued careers in public service.[2] Walsh's children, Bill Walsh and Martha Hood Walsh are judges in Onondaga County,[2] and James T. Walsh served in Congress for twenty years.[2] His grandson Ben Walsh became Syracuse mayor in 2018.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Mayor of Syracuse, NY 1961–1969 |
Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 33rd congressional district 1973–1979 |
Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Oldest living United States representative (Sitting or former) November 4, 2009 – January 8, 2011 |
Succeeded by |
