H. Jack Seltzer

H. Jack Seltzer
131st Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office January 2, 1979 – November 19, 1980
Preceded by	Leroy Irvis
Succeeded by	Matt Ryan
Republican Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office December 15, 1977 [1] – November 30, 1978
Preceded by	Robert Burtera
Succeeded by	Matt Ryan
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 101st district
In office January 7, 1969 – November 19, 1980
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	George Jackson
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the Lebanon County district
In office January 1, 1957 – November 30, 1968
Personal details
Born	(1922-08-12)August 12, 1922 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	February 28, 2011(2011-02-28) (aged 88) Scottsdale, Arizona
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Geneva S. Seltzer
Children	Michael J. (d. June 5, 1983), Craig H., Pamela Shepard, Patricia D. Wagoner

H. Jack Seltzer (August 12, 1922 – February 28, 2011) was a former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and owner of Seltzer's Lebanon Bologna Company.^[2] Seltzer was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1957. He was the first Speaker of the Pennsylvania House from Lebanon County. He died on February 28, 2011 at the age of 88.

Harvey Jack Seltzer was born in Philadelphia, PA on August 12, 1922, and grew up in Harrisburg and Palmyra.

He attended high school at Mercersburg Academy before enlisting in the United States Navy, serving as a First Class Petty Officer in the Pacific during World War II. He met his wife Geneva Shepherd while stationed in Jacksonville, Florida. They married in 1945 and moved to Palmyra after the war.

After the war, Jack reopened the family business, Seltzer's Lebanon Bologna Company, which had been started by his father in 1902.

He was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1957 and served twenty four years, the last two years as Speaker of House. Jack liked to say that he had the same job as Benjamin Franklin, who also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives in Pennsylvania.

Jack and Ginny were married 65 years. They had four children. Michael Jack Seltzer (d. 1983), Craig Harvey Seltzer (Donna Curanzy), Pamela Shepherd, and Patricia Wagoner (Rolf Wagoner). They have four grandchildren: Owen Michael Seltzer, Noah Michael Wagoner, Peter Austin Wagoner, and Geneva Esther Wagoner.

After his retirement, the Seltzers moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and also spent six months traveling around the world. Jack enjoyed tennis, sailing, bridge, and curling. He died peacefully on February 28, 2011, in Scottsdale, Arizona, surrounded by his family.^[3]

References

Speakers of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (since 1791) Bingham Wynkoop Latimer Evans Weaver Snyder Porter Snyder Boileau Engle Weber Tod R. Smith St. Clair Holgate Hill Davidson Hill J. Lawrence Gilmore J. Lawrence Sutherland Ritner Middleswarth F. Smith Laporte Findley Anderson W. Patterson J. Thompson Middleswarth Dewart Hopkins Crabb Snowden H. Wright Snowden F. Patterson Cooper Packer McCalmont Cessna Rhey Schell Chase Strong R. Wright Getz Longaker W. Lawrence Davis Rowe Cessna Johnson Olmstead Kelley Glass Davis Clark Strang Webb Elliott McCormick S. Patterson Myer Long Hewitt Faunce Graham Boyer C. Thompson Walton Boyer Farr Marshall Walton McClain Cox Shreve Alter Ambler Baldwin Spangler Whitaker Goodnough Bluett McClure Hess Goodnough Talbot Sarig Furman Turner Kilroy Fiss Lichtenwalter Sorg C. Smith Andrews Helm Andrews Helm Hamilton Lee Fineman Lee Fineman Irvis Seltzer Ryan Irvis Manderino O'Donnell DeWeese Ryan Perzel O'Brien McCall S. Smith Turzai