Biography

06/20/1929 - 05/13/2009

Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania Ernest Paul Kline (D47) Beaver County 1965-1966 (D47) Beaver and Washington (Part) Counties 1967-1971

Early Life:

Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania Ernest Paul Kline, born June 20, 1929, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; son of Allen J. and Elna Natali Kline; starting quarterback, Rostraver High School, Belle Vernon, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1947; attended, Duquesne University; radio news broadcasting, Charleroi, Connellsville, Kittanning, WBVP-AM in Beaver Falls, 1948- 1967; councilman, City of Beaver Falls, 1955; appointed, Beaver Falls Municipal Authority; gubernatorial appointed, workers' compensation referee, Beaver, Washington and Greene Counties, 1961; radio news broadcasting, WBVP until 1967; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1965- resigned, January 5, 1971, minority floor leader, 1967-1970; elected, Democrat, 25th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, 1971-1979; delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1972; unsuccessful campaign, primary, Democratic nomination for governor, 1978; delegate, Democratic National Convention, 2000; president, Kline Associates Limited; lobbyist; married, Josephine Recupero Kline, children, Patricia Kline Just, Honorable Samuel A. Kline, Michael Kline, John P. Kline, Vincent J. Kline, Myra Ann Taylor, Monica Kline; died, May 13, 2009, Feast of Our Lady of Fatima; Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; interment, Gravel Hill Cemetery, Palmyra, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Councilman, City of Beaver Falls, 1955; appointed, Beaver Falls Municipal Authority.

Appointed, Governor David L. Lawrence, workers' compensation referee, Beaver, Washington and Greene Counties, 1961.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 47th district, Beaver County 1965-1966; Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 47th district, Beaver and Washington (Part) Counties 1967-resigned, January 5, 1971; elected, Minority Floor Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate, youngest person to hold that post, 1967-1970. John Good seated June 21, 1971, fill vacancy.

Elected, Democrat, 25th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania; Governor Milton J. Shapp; presiding officer Pennsylvania State Senate; chairman, Board of Pardons; co-chairman, National Bicentennial Commission; chairman, Governor's Commission on Basic Education; chairman, Energy Council, 1971-1979.

Delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1972.

Unsuccessful campaign, primary, Democratic nomination for governor, Peter Flaherty, who eventually lost to Dick Thornburgh, 1978.

Delegate, Democratic National Convention, 2000.

Legacy: 

In the Senate August 1, 1967, Mr. Wellington Julian "William" Lane: “Mr. President, I am very happy to announce that the Democratic Caucus, today, selected Senator Ernest P. Kline as our new Floor Leader, succeeding the late Senator John H. Devlin”. Sj19670801.pdf (state.pa.us)

Enacted from HB 1799, Act of October 19, 2010, P.L. 543, No. 79, Designation. --The bridge carrying Route 1022 across the Monongahela River and the Norfolk Southern and CSX Rail Line between Donora, Washington County, and Webster, Westmoreland County, is hereby designated the Lieutenant Governor Ernest P. Kline Memorial Bridge. 2010 Act 79 (state.pa.us)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members K". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Obituary: Ernest P. Kline / Lieutenant governor under Shapp (post-gazette.com)

Ernest Paul Kline (1929-2009) - Find a Grave Memorial