John P. Saylor

John Phillips Saylor (July 23, 1908 – October 28, 1973) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania serving from 1949 until his death from a heart attack in Houston, Texas in 1973.

John Saylor
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania
In office
September 13, 1949 – October 28, 1973
Preceded byRobert Coffey
Succeeded byJohn Murtha
Constituency26th district (1949–1953)
22nd district (1953–1973)
12th district (1973)
Personal details
Born(1908-07-23)July 23, 1908
Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedOctober 28, 1973(1973-10-28) (aged 65)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Resting placeGrandview Cemetery
40.31170°N 78.92580°W / 40.31170; -78.92580 (Grandview Cemetery)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseGrace
Children2
Alma materFranklin and Marshall College
Dickinson School of Law

Background

Saylor was born in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1929, and Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1933. He was elected city solicitor of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1938 and served until 1940. He enlisted in the United States Navy on August 6, 1943 and served until January 1946.

Political career

Saylor was elected as a Republican to the 81st Congress, by special election, September 13, 1949, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert L. Coffey. He was reelected to the twelve succeeding Congresses and served until his death in Houston, Texas. During his time in Congress he became dedicated to a number of environmental causes, including the Wilderness Act of 1964,[1] the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Act, National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and in opposition to the Kinzua Dam Project.[2] He was dubbed "St. John" by environmental advocates for his dogged work on environmental issues.

In 1970 the Izaak Walton League of America bestowed its highest honor, the Founders' Award, to Saylor "for two decades of unprecedented leadership in the Congress of the United States for sound resource management, the preservation of natural scenic and cultural values, the maintenance of a quality environment, and the unalienable right of citizens to be involved in resources and environmental decisions."[3]

Saylor voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,[4] 1960,[5] 1964,[6] and 1968,[7] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[8][9]

Personal life and death

Saylor and his wife, Grace, had two children.[10]

On October 24, 1973, Saylor had surgery for an aortic aneurysm at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston. While the operation was reported to be a success, he had a heart attack in his hospital room shortly after midnight on October 28 and died at the age of 65.[10] He is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The John P. Saylor Trail in Gallitzin State Forest is named after him.[11]

See also

Sources
  • United States Congress. "John Phillips Saylor (id: S000102)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Voice of Wild and Scenic Rivers: John P. Saylor of Pennsylvania (full text here)

Notes
  1. Green Republican: John Saylor and the Preservation of America's Wilderness
  2. Indiana University of Pennsylvania Saylor Special Collection
  3. "John P. Saylor : Conservationist in Congress". Archived from the original on 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2008-10-25. Izaak Walton League of America Award
  4. "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
  5. "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
  6. "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
  7. "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES".
  8. "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
  9. "TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT".
  10. "Heart Attack Fatal To Congressman John P. Saylor". Indiana Gazette. Indiana, Pennsylvania. October 29, 1973. p. 1.
  11. John P. Saylor Trail
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