Thomas F. Lamb
{{short description|American politician and attorney}}
{{other people|Thomas Lamb}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image =
| state_senate2 = Pennsylvania
| district2 = 42nd
| term_start2 = January 7, 1969
| term_end2 = November 30, 1974
| constituency2 = Parts of Allegheny County
| predecessor2 = Bernard B. McGinnis
| successor2 = Eugene Scanlon
| state_house3 = Pennsylvania
| district3 = Allegheny County
| term_start3 = January 6, 1959
| term_end3 = November 30, 1966
| birth_name = Thomas Francis Lamb
| birth_date = {{birth date |1922|10|22}}
| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2015|5|7|1922|10|22}}
| death_place = Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| alma_mater = Duquesne University (BA, LLB)
| occupation =
| spouse = Barbara Joyce Lamb
| children =
| relations = Michael Lamb (son)
Conor Lamb (grandson)
| website =
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|United States|1912}}
| branch = {{Flag|United States Navy}}
| serviceyears = World War II
| rank =
| unit =
| commands =
}}
Thomas Francis Lamb (October 22, 1922 – May 7, 2015) was an American politician and attorney who served as a member of both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Early life and education
Lamb was born on October 22, 1922, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of James Lamb and Agnes Dunne Lamb. Following his education at St. James Elementary and High School, Lamb earned a Bachelor of Arts from Duquesne University and a Bachelor of Laws from Duquesne University Law School.
Career
During World War II, he served as a lieutenant in the United States Armed Forces. Lamb gained membership to the Allegheny County bar association and Pennsylvania Bar Association, allowing him to practice law during his career.
In 1958, Lamb was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he served until 1966.{{cite web | last = Cox | first = Harold | title = House Members "L" | publisher = Wilkes University | work = Wilkes University Election Statistics Project| date = | url =http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/L.html}}{{cite web| last = Kestenbaum| first = Lawrence | author-link = Lawrence Kestenbaum| title = Index to Politicians: Lamb| work = The Political Graveyard| publisher = | date = March 24, 2009| url = http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/lamb.html| accessdate = December 2, 2009}} During his time as a state representative, Lamb was instrumental in making the University of Pittsburgh a state-related institution to save it from bankruptcy.{{cite book|last=Alberts|first=Robert C.|title=Pitt: the story of the University of Pittsburgh, 1787-1987|year=1986|publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pa.|pages=340–343|url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/text-idx?idno=31735057896312;view=toc;c=pittpress}}
Later, he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate, serving from 1969 to 1974.{{cite web | last = Cox | first = Harold | title = Senate Members "L" | publisher = Wilkes University | work = Wilkes University Election Statistics Project| date = | url =http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/SL.html}} As the Democratic majority leader, Lamb led efforts concerning the environmental effects of mining, civil rights and entitlements, and the creation of the Port Authority Transit. In 1974, he did not run for re-election in order to have more time to spend with his family.
Personal life
In 1957, he married Barbara Joyce, with whom he had four children, including Michael Lamb.[http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=ascead&cc=ascead&rgn=main&view=text&didno=US-PPiU-ais197509 Thomas F. Lamb Papers Finding Aid], 1968-1974, AIS.1975.09, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh. Lamb is the grandfather of Conor Lamb (b. 1984), an attorney, former federal prosecutor, Captain in the United States Marine Corps, and the U.S. representative from Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district.{{cite news|last1=Burns|first1=Alexander|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|date=March 14, 2018|title=Conor Lamb Wins Pennsylvania House Seat and Shows Democrats the Way Into Trump Country|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/us/politics/democrats-republicans-pennsylvania-special-election.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news|accessdate=March 14, 2018}}
Lamb died in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, on May 7, 2015. He was buried with a Catholic funeral.[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-f-lamb&pid=174818833&fhid=10409 Thomas F. Lamb-obituary]
References
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Category:Politicians from Pittsburgh
Category:Duquesne University alumni
Category:Duquesne University School of Law alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:Democratic Party Pennsylvania state senators
Category:20th-century American lawyers
Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II
Category:United States Navy officers
Category:20th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly