William T. Conklin
William T. Conklin (April 28, 1908 – February 15, 1990) was an American politician from New York.
Life
He was born on April 28, 1908,[1] in Brooklyn, New York City. He married Jessie F. Hanrahan (died 1980), and they had three children, among them Billy Conklin (died 2013) who suffered from some type of intellectual disability. They lived in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Out of caring for his son Billy, Conklin got involved in community work with such children. He took part in the organization of the Guild for Exceptional Children; and became a director of several other associations and medical facilities which cared for these children. He also entered politics as a Republican, and managed to unseat the Democratic incumbent from the 14th State Senate district in his second attempt in November 1956.
Conklin was a member of the New York State Senate from 1957 to 1978, sitting in the 171st, 172nd, 173rd, 174th, 175th, 176th, 177th, 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st and 182nd New York State Legislatures. There he lobbied for the employment of intellectually disabled persons as messengers and clerks by the State government in Albany, and sponsored legislation for mandatory tests of newborn babies for phenylketonuria.
He was a delegate to the 1972 Republican National Convention.
He died on February 15, 1990, in Victory Memorial Hospital in Brooklyn;[2] and was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery there.
Sources
- ↑ "CONKLIN, WILLIAM T." at Social Security Info
- ↑ W. T. Conklin, 81; Republican Represented Brooklyn in Senate in the New York Times on February 16, 1990
External links
| New York State Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John F. Furey |
New York State Senate 14th District 1957–1965 |
Succeeded by Thomas J. Mackell |
| Preceded by Manfred Ohrenstein |
New York State Senate 25th District 1966 |
Succeeded by Manfred Ohrenstein |
| Preceded by Jeremiah B. Bloom |
New York State Senate 21st District 1967–1978 |
Succeeded by Christopher J. Mega |