O’BRIEN, Joseph John, Congress, NY (1897-1953)

O’BRIEN, Joseph John, a Representative from New York; born in Rochester, Monroe County, N.Y., October 9, 1897; attended the public schools, SS. Peter and Paul’s Catholic School, and the Cathedral High School, Rochester, N.Y., St. Jerome’s College, Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario, and McGill University, Montreal, Canada; during the First World War served as a master at arms in the United States Navy 1917-1919; chief construction inspector, New York Central Railroad, 1919-1938; professional football player 1919-1925; professional heavyweight wrestler 1919-1926; treasurer of East Rochester, N.Y., 1932-1935, and assessor 1935-1938; elected as a Republican to the Seventy-sixth, Seventy-seventh, and Seventy-eighth Congresses (January 3, 1939-January 3, 1945); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1944 to the Seventy-ninth Congress; district administrator for New York State Compensation Board from June 1, 1945, until his death; was also executive vice president of the General Sheet Signal Co., of Rochester, N.Y.; died in Rochester, N.Y., January 23, 1953; interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present