Earl Brydges

Earl William Brydges was born on May 25, 1905, in Niagara Falls, New York. He graduated from Niagara University and the University at Buffalo law school in 1926. Later he served for many years on Niagara University's board of trustees. He was admitted to the bar in 1927.

Brydges served on the Board of Education in Wilson, New York, during the 1940s. He also was active in educational advocacy organizations in Western New York.

He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1949 to 1972, sitting in the 167th, 168th, 169th, 170th, 171st, 172nd, 173rd, 174th, 175th, 176th, 177th, 178th and 179th New York State Legislatures.

For the majority of his Senate career, Brydges focused mainly on educational policy and mental health issues. His focus within the area of mental health was on improving services for the mentally retarded and special education students. His education policy focus was on K-12 education policy statewide.{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=BRYDGES QUESTIONS CITY SCHOOL PLAN|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F0DE0D71730E034BC4F52DFB4678383679EDE&legacy=true|access-date=20 October 2016|work=The New York Times|date=17 December 1968}} Brydges served as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Mental Health.

In 1965, when the Republican Party lost the majority in the State Senate for the only time since 1939, Brydges was elected Minority Leader of the Senate.{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=STATE SENATORS TO NAME LEADER; Brydges Likely to Get Post at G.O.P. Meeting Dec. 6|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C00E1DB1639E33ABC4F51DFB767838E679EDE&legacy=true|access-date=20 October 2016|work=The New York Times|date=27 November 1965}} Court ordered voting rights redistricting lead to senators serving one year terms in 1965 and 1966. The Republican Party regained the majority in 1966, and Brydges became Majority Leader.{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Sydney H. Schanberg Special To The New York|title=DEMOCRATS HALT ALBANY PARLEYS ON REDISTRICTING; {{!}} Travia Declares Compromise Efforts Are at Impasse Urges Court Act {{!}} G.O.P. CHIEF SURPRISED {{!}} Brydges Charges Decision Was Made by Top Echelon Leaders on Outside Reapportionment Negotiations Are Called Off in Legislature|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03E4D81F3BEF34BC4951DFB466838D679EDE&legacy=true|access-date=20 October 2016|work=The New York Times|date=21 February 1966}} He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1967.

As Majority Leader, Brydges worked closely with Gov. Nelson Rockefeller on policy development and legislation. His main focus continued on educational issues, along with upstate economic development. He worked with Rockefeller to create the State University of New York system and to develop new school state aid funding formulas. Brydges worked with Rockfeller in the creation of new state agencies and reorganization of the New York City mass transit system. As Majority Leader, Brydges remained an advocate for Western New York and tourism development in Niagara County. He was an early supporter of casino gambling in Niagara Falls. In 1972, Brydges successfully passed legislation to legalize casino gaming in New York State through an amendment to the state constitution. The casino amendment did not pass in the end, since the state constitution requires the passage of legislation in two consecutive legislative sessions and then passage of the majority of the state's voters in a statewide referendum. Brydges' vision in the area of casino gaming was realized with the opening of the Seneca Niagara Casino on January 1, 2003.

Brydges was a fierce opponent of reproductive rights and blocked legislation to legalize abortion in New York. In 1970, Brydges allowed the Senate to vote on legislation to legalize abortion. He did so under the belief the Senate would not pass the bill. When the Senate surprised him and passed the bill, which had already passed the Assembly and had the support of Governor Rockefeller, Brydges reportedly sat in his Senate chair and wept.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/09/nyregion/70-abortion-law-new-york-said-yes-stunning-the-nation.html|title='70 Abortion Law: New York Said Yes, Stunning the Nation|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 April 2000|last1=Perez-Pena|first1=Richard|pages=A1, A36|pmid=11791610}}

File:Brydges.jpgIn 1972, both Rockefeller and Lt. Gov. Malcolm Wilson left the state on the same afternoon. Under the state constitution, this made Brydges the Acting Governor of New York for several hours. As acting governor, Brydges signed routine state paperwork and conducted Senate business. He did not sign any legislation into law, including a pending bill relating to Niagara Falls that he had sponsored.

In 1972, Brydges did not seek reelection to the Senate and he retired on January 1, 1973.{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=William E. Farrell Special To The New York|title=Legislature Opening Session Today; Debate Foreseen on Budget Surplus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/03/archives/legislature-opening-session-today-debate-foreseen-on-budget-surplus.html|access-date=20 October 2016|work=The New York Times|date=3 January 1973}}

He married Eleanor C. Mahoney. Together, they had five sons and two daughters, including:

• Earl W. Brydges, Jr., who married Martha Ann Shalala in 1967.{{cite Dennis Brydges, who married Evelyn Olson in 1967

news|last1=Winter|first1=Ellore|title=Martha Ann Shalala Married To Earl William Brydges Jr.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E04E0D61E31E23ABC4852DFBF66838C679EDE&legacy=true|access-date=20 October 2016|work=The New York Times|date=10 September 1967}}

• Thomas Eugene Brydges, who married Melissa MacLeod May in 1990.{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=Miss Hammer, T. E. Brydges Marry Upstate|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/25/archives/miss-hammer-t-e-brydges-marry-upstate.html|access-date=20 October 2016|work=The New York Times|date=25 November 1972}}
• William Brydges
• Margaret Brydges

Brydges died of cancer in 1975 and his funeral was attended by then Vice President Rockefeller.{{cite news|last1=Hudson|first1=Edward|title=Earl Brydges Dies of Cancer; State Senate Republican Leader|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/31/archives/earl-brydges-dies-of-cancer-state-senate-republican-leader.html|access-date=20 October 2016|work=The New York Times|date=March 31, 1975}} This was Rockefeller's first visit to Upstate New York as vice president.

The Earl W. Brydges Artpark in Lewiston, New York, an outdoor theater and concert center that he championed, was named in his honor. In addition, the main public library in Niagara Falls, the Earl W. Brydges Library, designed by architect Paul Rudolph, was named after him.

{{reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-ny-sen}}

{{succession box | title = New York State Senate
52nd District | before = William Bewley | years = 1949–1954 | after = George T. Manning}}

{{succession box | title = New York State Senate
54th District | before = Stanley J. Bauer | years = 1955–1965 | after = Theodore D. Day}}

{{succession box | title = New York State Senate
60th District | before = new district | years = 1966 | after = district abolished}}

{{succession box | title = New York State Senate
52nd District | before = Tarky Lombardi, Jr. | years = 1967–1972 | after = Frederick L. Warder}}

{{s-off}}

{{succession box | title = Minority Leader in the New York State Senate | before = Joseph Zaretzki | years = 1965 | after = Joseph Zaretzki}}

{{succession box | title = Temporary President of the State Senate | before = Joseph Zaretzki | after = Warren M. Anderson | years = 1966–1972}}

{{s-end}}

{{MajorityLeaderNYSSenate}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brydges, Earl W.}}

Category:1905 births

Category:1975 deaths

Category:Republican Party New York (state) state senators

Category:Niagara University alumni

Category:University at Buffalo alumni

Category:Politicians from Niagara Falls, New York

Category:Majority leaders of the New York State Senate

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