Fred B. Rooney

Frederick Bernard Rooney Jr. (November 6, 1925 – December 23, 2019) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district from 1963 to 1979.

Fred B. Rooney
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 15th district
In office July 30, 1963 – January 3, 1979
Preceded by	Francis E. Walter
Succeeded by	Donald L. Ritter
Member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 18th district
In office November 5, 1958 – August 6, 1963
Preceded by	Joseph Yosko
Succeeded by	Gus Verona
Personal details
Born	Frederick Bernard Rooney Jr. November 6, 1925 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Died	December 23, 2019 (aged 94) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Evelyn Rooney[1]
Relatives	T. J. Rooney (nephew)
Alma mater	University of Georgia

Early life and education

Rooney was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to Fred B. (1881–1945) and Veronica K. (McGreevy) Rooney (1887–1969). He graduated from Bethlehem High School in 1944 and served in the United States Army from February 1944 to April 1946, with service in Europe as a paratrooper. He graduated from the University of Georgia at Athens in 1950 with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree. He worked in the real estate and insurance business.[2]

Career

Rooney served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 18th district from November 5, 1958 until his resignation on August 6, 1963.[2]

He was elected as a Democrat to the 88th Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Francis E. Walter, and reelected to the seven succeeding Congresses. Mr. Rooney served on the House Transportation Committee, where his specialties included railroad issues.  He was one of the architects of the 1976 legislation that established Conrail, which took over the operation of potentially profitable railroad companies that had fallen into bankruptcy, including the Penn Central.[5] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1978.

After leaving Congress, he joined Cassidy & Associates, a consulting firm representing business interests in Washington, D.C..[3]

Later he went into business for himself, representing such clients as Conrail, the Association of American Railroads and the American Iron and Steel Institute.[5]

In 2009, the portion of Pennsylvania Route 378 in Bethlehem from US 22 to the Hill to Hill Bridge was renamed the Fred B. Rooney Highway, recognizing his role in the creation of that portion of the highway.[4]

Rooney's nephew T. J. Rooney also served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Fred B. Rooney died at his home in Washington D.C. on December 23, 2019.[1] He was 94.

References

1. "Fred Rooney, former Lehigh Valley congressman, dies at 94". InsuranceNewsNet. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
2. "Pennsylvania Senate - Fred Bernard Rooney Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
3. "Rep. Fred Rooney". www.bgca.org. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
4. "Bill Information, House Bill 1468". Pennsylvania General Assembly. October 9, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2018.

5. "Fred B Rooney" Obituary, Washington Post, print edition 29 DEC 2019.

• United States Congress. "Fred B. Rooney (id: R000423)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.