Biography

06/20/1929 - 05/13/2009

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

Early Life:

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.

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