Edwin Corning Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Albany Art Union photo, 1958 | |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from Albany County's 1st District | |
| In office January 1, 1955 –August 26, 1959 | |
| Preceded by | D-Cady Herrick 2nd |
| Succeeded by | Frank P. Cox |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 26,1919 |
| Died | January 31,1964 (aged 44) |
| Resting place | Albany Rural Cemetery,Menands,New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Barbara May Thomson (m. 1950-1964,his death) |
| Relations | Erastus Corning 2nd (brother) Parker Corning (uncle) Erastus Corning (great-grandfather) Amasa J. Parker (great-grandfather) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Edwin Corning Louise Maxwell Corning |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Profession | Business executive |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942-1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | Pacific theater |
Edwin Corning Jr. (September 26,1919 - January 31,1964) was an American businessman,United States Navy officer and Democratic politician from Albany,New York. A member of the prominent Corning family,he was most notable for his service as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1955 to 1959.
Edwin Corning Jr. was born in Albany,New York on September 26,1919, [1] the son of Edwin Corning and Louise (Maxwell) Corning. [2] He was educated at The Albany Academy and the Groton School and was a 1942 graduate of Yale College. [1] [2]
Corning joined the United States Navy for World War II. [2] He enlisted in 1942,and received a commission as an ensign. [2] Corning participated in combat in the Pacific theater,and attained the rank of lieutenant before receiving his discharge in 1946. [2] In January 1946,Corning's name appeared among a list of Navy officers who were passengers aboard USS LST 589 when it sailed from Qingdao to Shanghai. [3]
After the war,Corning returned to Albany,where he became active in the Albany Associates insurance agency,a Corning family business. [2] He became vice president of the company,in addition to serving on its board of directors. [2] He also served as a director of several other companies,including the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and Albany's First Trust Company. [2]
A Democrat,in 1954,Corning was the successful nominee to represent Albany County's first district in the New York State Assembly. [2] He was reelected in 1956 and 1958,and served from January 1955 until resigning in August 1959. [2]
In May,1959,Corning was involved in a car accident on U.S. Route 9 near Boght Corners. [4] He sustained severe injuries and was hospitalized for several months. [5] [6] Citing the amount of time he needed to devote to his recovery,Corning resigned his Assembly seat in order to give officials the opportunity to hold a special election prior to the start of the next session in January 1960,thus ensuring that his district would continue to be represented. [7]
After his car accident,Corning curtailed most of his business and political activities,and was a resident of Clarksville. [2] He died at his home in Clarksville on January 31,1964,and was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands,New York. [2]
In 1950,Corning married Barbara May Thomson (1923-2012). [8] They were the parents of two children,daughter Jamie and son Edwin. [2]
Corning's family was long prominent in Albany-area politics and business. [2] In addition to his father's service as Lieutenant Governor of New York,Corning's brother Erastus Corning 2nd was the longtime mayor of Albany. [2] His uncle Parker Corning served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York for 14 years. [9] Corning's great-grandfather,Amasa J. Parker served in Congress and enjoyed a long career as a state court judge. [10] Another great-grandfather,Erastus Corning was a member of Congress and mayor of Albany. [11]