William J. Munley (January 6, 1883 – March 9, 1938) was an American politician. He served eight consecutive terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives until his sudden death in 1938.

Life

William J. Munley was born in Archbald, Pennsylvania on January 6, 1883 and went to the Archbald local schools. At the age of 8, he started working in the mines. He was employed by the Scranton Transit Company on March 4, 1908 as a conductor for the Carbondale lines. In 1927, he became the supervisor of the Carbondale division which he held until the Carbondale line was abandoned several years later. His son

Robert W. Munley Robert W. Munley (April 16, 1906 – January 25, 1947) was an American politician. Munley was born in Archbald, Pennsylvania and graduated from Archbald High School. He attended St. Thomas College, now the University of Scranton and worked for ...

and daughter-in-law

Marion L. Munley Marion Langan Munley (August 19, 1905 – September 14, 1983) was among the first women elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She established multiple precedents for women in Pennsylvania public life and was a prominent leader ...

also served in the

Pennsylvania General Assembly The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times (1682–1776), the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania ...

. His grandson

James Martin Munley James Martin Munley (June 28, 1936 – March 22, 2020) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Education and career Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Munley received a Bachelo ...

served as a United States District Court judge.

Political Career

While living in Mayfield, Pennsylvania, in 1918, Munley held his first political office when he was elected as borough auditor. His next forray into politics occurred in 1922 when he was elected to the

Pennsylvania House of Representatives The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts. It ...

, succeeding Rep. Will Jones. Munley was reelected to the House to serve seven consecutive terms thereafter. A member of the Scranton division of the Street Car Men's Union, Munley took an active hand in any legilation that was sponsored by organized labor and was soon recognized a labor leader in th elower branch. He was also instrumental in the creation of the highways that ran through his district.

Death

Munley died while in office, March 9, 1938, in Scranton, Pennsylvania after suffering a paralytic stroke while attending a wrestling match in Archbald.'Hon. William Munley, Archbald legislator, Died This Morning,' The Pittston Gazette (Pennsylvania), March 9, 1938

Notes

1883 births 1938 deaths Politicians from Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 20th-century American legislators 20th-century Pennsylvania politicians {{Pennsylvania-PARepresentative-stub