Member Biography
Henry Charles Messinger
| Sessions | Office | Position | District | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 16 | Democrat | ||
| 1972 | Caucus Secretary | 16 | Democrat | |
| 1973 | Majority Whip | 16 | Democrat | |
| 1974 | 16 | Democrat | ||
| 1975 | 16 | Democrat | ||
| 1976 | 16 | Democrat | ||
| 1977 | Majority Floor Leader | 16 | Democrat | |
| 1978 | 16 | Democrat | ||
| 1979 | 16 | Democrat | ||
| 1980 | 16 | Democrat | ||
| 1981 | 16 | Democrat | ||
| 1982 | 16 | Democrat |
COUNTIES: Lehigh
Biography
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