Bernard Tompkins

He was born on February 6, 1904, in New York City. He was an Assistant United States Attorney from 1930 to 1936 and a special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General from 1937 to 1940.[https://books.google.com/books?id=-moLAQAAIAAJ&q=bernard+tompkins+born+1904+queens New York Red Book] (1954; pg. 125)

In November 1952, Tompkins defeated the incumbent Democratic Senator Frank D. O'Connor in the 6th senatorial district and was a member of the New York State Senate (6th D.) in 1953 and 1954. He was Chairman of a Joint Legislative Committee on Charitable and Philanthropic Agencies and Organizations (the "Tompkins Committee") which investigated fund-raising practices in New York. The findings of the committee led to the enactment of a law that required registration and reporting by fund-raising organizations and individuals.[https://books.google.com/books?id=9Cgg_vy7564C&pg=PA343 Fund Raising in the United States] by Scott M. Cutlip (Rutgers University, 1965, pg. 343)

In November 1954, after re-apportionment, Tompkins ran in the 8th district for re-election but was defeated by O'Connor. In November 1955, O'Connor was elected D.A. of Queens County, and a special election for the vacant Senate seat was held on February 7, 1956.[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201956/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201956%20-%200148.pdf Little Voter-Interest Evidenced in Election] in the Long Island Star-Journal on February 6, 1956 Tompkins defeated the Democratic nominee Thomas A. Duffy, and was again a member of the State Senate for the remainder of the session of 1956. In November 1956, Tompkins ran for re-election but was defeated by Duffy.[http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%208/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette%201956%20Oct-Nov%20Grayscale/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette%201956%20Oct-Nov%20Grayscale%20-%201244.pdf State G.O.P. Gains 11 Legislative Seats, Misses "Veto-Proof" Goal] in the Niagara Falls Gazette, of Niagara Falls, on November 7, 1956

He died on February 7, 1965, while being interviewed by the press on the steps of the NYPD Station House at West 68th Street in Manhattan, of a heart attack;[https://www.nytimes.com/1965/02/08/archives/bernard-tomphins-dead-at-61-lawyer-and-exstatesenator-queens.html Bernard Tompkins Dead at 61; Lawyer and Ex-State Senator] in The New York Times on February 8, 1965 (subscription required) and was buried at the Mount Hebron Cemetery in Flushing, Queens.

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{{succession box | before = Frank D. O'Connor | title = New York State Senate
6th District | years = 1953–1954 | after = James J. Crisona}}

{{succession box | before = Frank D. O'Connor | title = New York State Senate
8th District | years = 1956 | after = Thomas A. Duffy}}

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Category:1904 births

Category:1965 deaths

Category:Politicians from Queens, New York

Category:Republican Party New York (state) state senators

Category:Assistant United States attorneys

Category:20th-century American lawyers

Category:Burials at Mount Hebron Cemetery (New York City)

Category:Lawyers from New York City

Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature