Member Biography

Biography

John J. Haluska (D35) Cambria County 1937-1956 (D35) Cambria County 1961-1964

Early Life:

John J. Haluska, born, May 8, 1902, Canonsburg, Washington County, Pennsylvania; son of John Emery and Mary J Palko Haluska; Patton public school education; storage battery manufacturer; auto merchant and repair shop operator; sales and advertising manager, Goenner and Company, ten years; owner, Union Insurance Company; elected, council, Patton Borough, four years; elected, mayor, Patton, Pennsylvania, four years; elected, burgess, Patton Borough, four years; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1934-1935; not a candidate for reelection, 1936; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1937-1956, unsuccessful campaign for reelection, State Senate, 1956; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1961-1964, unsuccessful campaign for reelection, State Senate, 1964; director, Miners Hospital, Spangler, 1940-1954; director, vice-president, First National Bank, Patton; married, Anne P. Flesher Haluska, children, Loretta Jane Haluska Albright, J. Thomas Haluska; died, December 5, 1984, Patton, Cambria County, Pennsylvania; interment, Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Patton, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

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

Director, vice-president, First National Bank of Patton; Board of Directors, Miner’s Hospital, Spangler; member, Loyal Order of Moose; Fraternal Order of Eagles; Patton Fire Company.

Early Career:

Storage battery manufacturer; auto merchant and repair shop operator; sales and advertising manager, Goenner and Company, ten years; owner, Union Insurance Company.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, council, Patton Borough, four years; elected, mayor, Patton, Pennsylvania, four years; elected, burgess, Patton Borough, four years.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1934-1935; not a candidate for reelection, 1936. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 35th district, Cambria County, 1937-1956; appointed, Commission to Make Certain Studies of Bituminous Coal Mines, 1937-1940; appointed, Joint Committee to Investigate Riots at Donaldson, Pennsylvania, 1941-1942; appointed, Joint State Government Commission, 1945-1950: Subcommittee on Child Welfare Laws, Juvenile Delinquency and Institutions, 1945-1946: Subcommittee on Strip Mining, 1945-1946: Subcommittee on Labor Laws, 1947-1948: Subcommittee on Education, 1947-1948; appointed, Local Government Commission, 1947-1950; appointed, Local Government Commission, 1953-1956; appointed, Joint State Government Commission, 1953-1956; unsuccessful campaign for reelection, State Senate, 1956. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 35th district, Cambria County, 1961-1964; appointed, Local Government Commission, 1961-1964; appointed, Local Government Commission, chair, 1962; unsuccessful campaign for reelection, State Senate, 1964. 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography: 

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy: 

The Patton Municipal Authority was formed under Act 382 of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1945. The Patton Municipal Authority was among the first in the state to be formed under this Act; Original members were: Senator John J. Haluska, George Lehman, Frank Young, Frank Schwab, and Dr. B.J. Overberger. 

Cited:

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

Government (pattonboro.com)

John J. Haluska (1902-1984) - Find a Grave Memorial