Biography

05/30/1915 - 05/13/1991

Henry Charles Messinger (D16) Lehigh County 1971-1972 (D16) Lehigh (Part) County 1973-1982

Early Life:

Henry Charles Messinger, born May 30, 1915, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; son of Wilson F. and Jane E. Heist Messinger; Kutztown State College, 1936, science teacher, Malvern Borough, Spring City High Schools, both in Chester County; married, Ruth E. Schaeffer Messinger, 1939, children, Allan Messinger, Tish Messinger Steward; science teacher, Allen High School, 1943-1945; veteran, United States Marine Corps of World War II, 1945-1946; resumed teaching; Cornell University, master of science degree, 1952; president, Allentown Education Association, 1957-1960, head of the science department, science supervisor, Allentown School District, 1960; elected, vice president, Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), 1962; elected president, Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), 1964; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1970-1982, elected Senate caucus secretary, 1972; elected Senate Majority Whip, 1973; elected Senate majority leader, 1977-1978, not a candidate for reelection, 1981; died, May 13, 1991 (aged 75), Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; interment, Saint Marks Cemetery, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, council member, Sunday School teacher, Saint Mark's Lutheran Church, Allentown; president, Lehigh County Conference of Churches; secretary, Pennsylvania Council of Churches.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 16th district, Lehigh County, 1971-1972, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 16th district, Lehigh (Part) County, 1973-1982; defeated, Republican Majority Whip John T. Van Sant, Allentown; elected, Senate caucus secretary, 1972; elected, Senate Majority Whip, 1973; elected, Senate majority leader, 1977-1978; not a candidate for reelection, 1981. 
Cited:

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

The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania), Wednesday, May 15, 1991, Page: B12 

Henry Charles Messinger (1915-1991) - Find a Grave Memorial