Edward P. Kirby

{{Infobox officeholder

|image = Edward Kirby (1991).jpg

|imagesize =

| name = Edward P. Kirby

| birth_name = Edward Paul Kirby

| birth_date = {{birth date |1928|1|10}}

| birth_place = Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|1|3|1928|1|10}}

| death_place =

| residence =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Mary Alice Kirby

| children = 3

| education = College of the Holy Cross (AB)
Boston College (JD)

| office = Member of the Massachusetts Senate

| constituency = 2nd Plymouth district (1981–1989)
Plymouth and Barnstable district (1989–1993)

| term_start = January 7, 1981

| term_end = January 6, 1993

| predecessor = Robert E. McCarthy

| successor = Therese Murray

| office1 = Commissioner of the Plymouth County Commission

| term_start1 = January 1969

| term_end1 = January 1977

| predecessor1 = Norman G. McDonald

| successor1 = Joseph W. McCarthy

| office2 = Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

| constituency2 = 5th Plymouth district (1961–1965)
4th Plymouth district (1965–1967)

| term_start2 = January 4, 1961

| term_end2 = January 4, 1967

| predecessor2 = Malcolm B. Boynton

| successor2 = Charles W. Mann

| branch = United States Army

| unit= J.A.G. Corps

| serviceyears = 1952–1955

| rank = First Lieutenant (active)Nationwide Gravesite Locator (Veterans Affairs)
Captain

| battles = Korean War

}}

Edward Paul "Ned" Kirby[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/edward-kirby-obituary?pid=183539151 Obituary] (January 10, 1928 – January 3, 2017) was an American politician and lawyer from Massachusetts.

Education

He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1949 and Boston College Law School in 1952.{{cite book |title=1991–1992 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts | url=https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof19911992bost#page/60/mode/2up }}{{cite web|title=Edward P. Kirby|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/southofboston-ledger/obituary.aspx?pid=183539151|publisher=The Patriot Ledger|access-date=21 February 2018}}

Military service

He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He served with the Army Judge Advocate General Corps. He later served as a Captain in the Army Reserves.[https://web.archive.org/web/20040807152120/http://www.nedkirby.com/Personal.html About Ned]

Legal career

He practiced law and served as Town Counsel for Whitman, Massachusetts.[https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof19611962bost#page/208/mode/2up/search/Kirby Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1961-1962)][https://vc.bridgew.edu/finding_aids/9/ Guide to the Edward Kirby Collection, 1954-2004]

Political career

From 1961 to 1967, Kirby was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. From 1969 to 1977 he was a Plymouth County Commissioner. From 1981 to 1993 he served in the Massachusetts Senate. He was the Third Assistant Minority Leader from 1983 to 1989 and again from 1991 to 1993. He served in all positions as a Republican. He ran in the 2004 State Representative General Election for the 7th Plymouth district but lost to Kathleen M. Teahan.[https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/111695/ 2004 State Representative General Election - 7th Plymouth District] He served on the Whitman Republican Town Committee.[http://www.whitmangop.mysite.com/ Senator Kirby Endorses Mark Alliegro] He founded the Plymouth County Development Council.

=Political positions & notable legislation=

He was pro-life. In 1989, he was opposed to a gay rights bill which would have prohibited discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, employment and credit.[https://dev.thecrimson.com/article/1989/10/3/bulger-hastens-gay-rights-bill-psenate/ Bulger Hastens Gay Rights Bill] Some believe this action may have cost him his seat in the 1992 State Senate election to Therese Murray.[http://whitmanhansonexpress.com/true-public-servant-whitman-mourns-former-state-sen-ned-kirby/ A true public servant: Whitman mourns former state Sen. Ned Kirby] He successfully helped pass legislation which went toward economic development for Whitman, the South Shore, the return of commuter rail service on the Plymouth/Kingston Line, and the Big Dig.