Paul Vincent Mullaney (November 22, 1919 – November 1, 2017) was an American judge, lawyer and politician from Massachusetts.[1][2]

Paul V. Mullaney
Judge of the Dudley District Court
In office
1978–1991
Appointed byMichael Dukakis
Mayor of Worcester
In office
January 1963 – January 1965
Preceded byJoseph C. Casdin
Succeeded byGeorge A. Wells
Member of the Worcester City Council
In office
1960–1967
Personal details
Born(1919-11-22)November 22, 1919
Main South, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedNovember 1, 2017(2017-11-01) (aged 97)
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children9
EducationCollege of the Holy Cross (BA)
Boston College (LLB)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1942–1946
1950–1952
RankFirst Lieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsBronze Star
Silver Star
Purple Heart (3)

Early life and education

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Born on November 22, 1919, Mullaney grew up in Main South,[1] at the time a predominantly Irish-Catholic neighborhood in Worcester.[3] He graduated from South High School in 1938.[1][3] He then attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, graduating in 1942.[1][4][3] Between World War II and the Korean War, Mullaney earned a law degree from Boston College Law School in 1948.[1][4][3]

Military service

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Upon graduation from Holy Cross, Mullaney enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with the 4th Marine Division as a sergeant.[3][1] He ended the war as a commissioned first lieutenant, having served in Guam and Tinian.[3][1] He returned to active duty in 1950, at the onset of the Korean War.[3][1] He was first injured during the recapture of Seoul.[3][1] He was injured a second time during the Chosin Reservoir campaign.[3][1] On November 27, 1950, he was awarded his third Purple Heart for an injury at Chosin that would end his military career. He spent the better part of the following year recovering at Chelsea Naval Hospital.[3][1] His military decorations included three Purple Hearts, Silver Star and Bronze Star.[3][1]

Professional career

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After the war, Mullaney worked as an attorney at Ceaty, Ceaty, and McCarthy from 1952 to 1978.[1][3] During that time, he was elected to the Worcester City Council from 1960-1967.[1][3] He served as the Mayor of Worcester from 1963-1965.[1][3] He mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the 3rd Congressional District of Massachusetts in 1974,[1][3] losing in the Democratic primary to Joseph D. Early.[1][3] In 1978, Mullaney was appointed a District Court Judge in Worcester County, where he served until his retirement in 1991.[1][3]

Personal life and death

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Mullaney married his wife, Sarah McDermott, in 1952.[1][3] They were married 62 years until her death in 2014.[1][3] He had nine children.[1][3] Mullaney was heavily involved in veteran activities within the city of Worcester.[1][3] As Honorary Chairman, he was instrumental in completion of the Central Mass. Korean War Memorial in 2003, located in Worcester.[1][3] In 2014, the city renamed city hall plaza "Paul Mullaney Plaza" in his honor. He was a longtime member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Worcester, MA.[5] Mullaney died on November 1, 2017, at the age of 97.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "The Honorable Paul V. Mullaney". www.kwmworcester.org. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  2. ^ "Paul Mullaney". Boys & Girls Club of Worcester. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Former Worcester mayor Paul Mullaney dies at 97
  4. ^ a b Martindale-Hubbell Online Directory Profile
  5. ^ "Paul Mullaney to be honored through renaming of Worcester City Hall plaza". telegram.com. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  6. ^ "Former Worcester Mayor Paul Mullaney dies at age 97". 2 November 2017.
  7. ^ Bird Jr., Walter (November 1, 2017). "Judge Paul Mullaney, war hero and former city official, dies".[permanent dead link]