Roy E. Furman (April 16, 1901 – May 18, 1977) was an American politician who served as the 21st lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1955 to 1959 and as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representative from 1936–1938.[1]

Roy E. Furman
Furman circa 1956
21st Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
In office
January 18, 1955 – January 20, 1959
GovernorGeorge Leader
Preceded byLloyd Wood
Succeeded byJohn Morgan Davis
129th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
March 14, 1936 – November 30, 1938
Preceded byWilson Sarig
Succeeded byEllwood Turner
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the Greene County district
In office
January 3, 1933 – November 30, 1940
Personal details
BornApril 16, 1901
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
DiedMay 18, 1977 (aged 76)
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHelen Ross
Alma materWaynesburg College (BA)
ProfessionConstruction company owner

Life and career

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Furman was born in Davistown, Greene County, Pennsylvania. Educated at Waynesburg College and owner of a construction company, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1932 and became Speaker of the House in 1936. He retired in 1940 to return to his construction business but remained politically active as chair of Greene County Democrats for ten years. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from January 1955 to 1959 during Governor George M. Leader's administration. In 1958, Furman ran for the Democratic nomination for governor but lost to David Lawrence.[1]

Furman served on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission during Governor Lawrence's term, later serving on the state transportation commission. Act 127 of 1975 designated Pennsylvania Route 21 as the “Roy E. Furman Highway.”[1]

Furman retired to New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, and died in Harrisburg at the age of 76.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Roy E. Furman - House Speaker Biographies". The Official Website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
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Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
1955–1959
Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
1936–1938
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
1954
Succeeded by