Daniel F. McDevitt

McDevitt was born on January 15, 1916, to Thomas H. and Catherine (Heffelfinger) McDevitt. He served in the Infantry Branch of the United States Army during World War II and received two Bronze Star Medals and a Purple Heart. After the war, he operated the Reading House bar. When he became mayor, McDevitt transferred control of the bar to brother.{{cite news |title=Taproom Gets Stamp |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lsAtAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=April 28, 1960}}

In 1953, McDevitt was elected to the Reading city council in his first ever attempt at elected office.{{cite news |title=2 Democrats Elected to City Council |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OGAtAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=November 4, 1953}} Two years later, he ran for mayor of Reading. He defeated former mayor John F. Davis by a 2 to 1 in the Democratic primary and beat city clerk Ralph W. D. Levan 18,556 votes to 11,674 in the general election.{{cite news |title=Kubacki, Guldin Up For Council |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQYrAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=May 18, 1955}}{{cite news |title=Democrats Sweep Berks |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I31IAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22McDevitt%22&pg=PA8&article_id=5173,2636909 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=November 9, 1955}} During his tenure, the West Shore Bypass was constructed, municipal parking lots were expanded, and the city's sewer system was upgraded.{{cite news |title=McDevitt Enters Race For Assembly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oQ4rAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=January 10, 1960}}

After McDevitt took office, Abe Minker took control of the rackets in Reading. Casinos and houses of prostitution flourished in the city until federal intervention. On July 4, 1956, the Internal Revenue Service removed unlicensed gambling machines from the Reading House.{{cite news |title=U.S. Seizes Pinball Machines Here |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xgQrAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=July 5, 1956}} Following the raid, McDevitt went to war with the Reading Eagle and Reading Times for publishing accounts of the incident. He closed the city hall press room, had police officers ticket newspaper delivery trucks every time they stopped to drop off papers, and had reporter Charles H. Kessler arrested for disorderly conduct for posing for a photograph in front of City Hall. The tickets were thrown out and the case against Kessler was dismissed. On September 7, 1957, United States Treasury agents raided the Reading House and arrested McDevitt's brother for tax violations related to an illegal horse book run at the bar.{{cite news |title=Six Arrested In Horse-Book Raids |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bgcrAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=September 8, 1957}} McDevitt was defeated for reelection by John C. Kubacki.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Susan Miers |title=United States of Berks: Get to know the history of Reading and how it got its name |url=https://www.readingeagle.com/2020/01/20/united-states-of-berks-get-to-know-the-history-of-reading-and-how-it-got-its-name/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=January 20, 2020}}

McDevitt was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1960 and reelected in 1962, but did not run for a third term in 1964.{{cite web |title=Daniel F. McDevitt |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=1460 |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives |access-date=May 3, 2024}}

On October 15, 1964, McDevitt and former city councilor Bruce R. Coleman were charged with extorting $2,000 from a company that sold three fire trucks to Reading in 1959.{{cite news |title=Two Charged In Alleged Shakedown |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XxYrAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=October 16, 1964}} The district attorney's office dropped the case on March 22, 1965, following a successful habeas corpus petition by McDevitt, who acted as his own attorney.{{cite news |title=D.A. Drops McDevitt Proceedings |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pg0rAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=March 23, 1965}}

In 1965, McDevitt ran for a seat on the Reading city council, but lost in the Democratic primary.

On September 9, 1965, McDevitt suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Reading Hospital's intensive care unit in serious condition.{{cite news |title=D.F. McDevitt Stricken With Heart Attack |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EwcrAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22daniel+f.+McDevitt%22&pg=PA1&article_id=3632,5222509 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=September 12, 1965}} He died three days later and was buried in Gethsemane Cemetery in Laureldale, Pennsylvania.{{cite news |title=D.F. McDevitt Viewing Set For Tuesday |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAcrAAAAIBAJ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Reading Eagle |date=September 13, 1965}} He was survived by his wife, Isabelle (Shaner) McDevitt, and daughter.

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Category:1916 births

Category:1965 deaths

Category:20th-century mayors of places in Pennsylvania

Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Category:Mayors of Reading, Pennsylvania

Category:United States Army personnel of World War II

Category:20th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly