Thomas P. Gannon (April 5, 1943 – January 10, 2021) was an American politician from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

who served as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member of the

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 161 Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 161 includes part of Delaware County. It is currently represented by Democrat Leanne Krueger. District profile The district includes the following areas: Delaware County: * Aston Township * ...

from 1979 to 2006.

Early life and education

Gannon was born in Philadelphia and graduated from

Cardinal Dougherty High School upright=1.35, CDHS marching band at the World Music Championship 1966 Cardinal Dougherty High School (CDHS) was a private, Roman Catholic high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphi ...

in 1961. He earned a degree in political science from

Temple University Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell and his congregation Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia then calle ...

in 1968 and a J.D. from the

Widener University School of Law Widener University Delaware Law School (Delaware Law School and formerly Widener University School of Law) is a private law school in Wilmington, Delaware. It is one of two separate ABA-accredited law schools of Widener University. Widener Un ...

in 1976.

Business career

Gannon worked as a Contract Surety Bond Claim Attorney for Reliance Insurance Company. On December 21, 2018, Gannon was suspended from practicing law for filing multiple "meritless and frivolous appeals" over a course of 8 years in a single case.

Political career

Gannon was elected as a member of the

in 1978 and was reelected for 13 consecutive terms. He had an unsuccessful campaign in 2006 and lost to

Bryan Lentz Bryan Roy Lentz (born June 5, 1964) is an American politician from Pennsylvania. He served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 161st legislative district from 2007 to 2010. He was the 2010 Democratic n ...

. During his tenure, he sought to eliminate insurance discrimination against persons suffering from mental illness. Gannon was a member of the Bar of the

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. It also claims to be the oldest appellate court in the United States, a claim that is disputed by the Massachusetts Supreme Ju ...

, the Delaware County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyer's Association, before his license was suspended. After leaving public office, Gannon worked as an independent government affairs consultant. He died on January 10, 2021.

References

External links

* official PA House website (archived) * official caucus website (archived) 1943 births 20th-century American politicians 21st-century American politicians 2021 deaths Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Pennsylvania lawyers Politicians from Philadelphia Temple University alumni Widener University alumni {{Pennsylvania-PARepresentative-stub