Edward Paul "Ned" Kirby[2] (January 10, 1928 – January 3, 2017) was an American politician and lawyer from Massachusetts.

Edward P. Kirby
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
In office
January 7, 1981 – January 6, 1993
Preceded byRobert E. McCarthy
Succeeded byTherese Murray
Constituency2nd Plymouth district (1981-1989)
Plymouth and Barnstable district (1989-1993)
Commissioner of the Plymouth County Commission
In office
January 1969 – January 1977
Preceded byNorman G. McDonald
Succeeded byJoseph W. McCarthy
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
January 4, 1961 – January 4, 1967
Preceded byMalcolm B. Boynton
Succeeded byCharles W. Mann
Constituency5th Plymouth district (1961-1965)
4th Plymouth district (1965-1967)
Personal details
Born
Edward Paul Kirby

(1928-01-10)January 10, 1928
Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJanuary 3, 2017(2017-01-03) (aged 88)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Alice Kirby
Children3
EducationCollege of the Holy Cross (AB)
Boston College (JD)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1952–1955
RankFirst Lieutenant (active)[1]
Captain
UnitJ.A.G. Corps
Battles/warsKorean War

Education

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He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1949 and Boston College Law School in 1952.[3][4]

Military service

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He served in the United States Army during the Korean War.[5] He served with the Army Judge Advocate General Corps.[5] He later served as a Captain in the Army Reserves.[6]

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He practiced law and served as Town Counsel for Whitman, Massachusetts.[7][5]

Political career

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From 1961 to 1967, Kirby was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[3] From 1969 to 1977 he was a Plymouth County Commissioner.[3] From 1981 to 1993 he served in the Massachusetts Senate.[3] He was the Third Assistant Minority Leader from 1983 to 1989 and again from 1991 to 1993.[3] He served in all positions as a Republican.[5] He ran in the 2004 State Representative General Election for the 7th Plymouth district but lost to Kathleen M. Teahan.[8] He served on the Whitman Republican Town Committee.[9] He founded the Plymouth County Development Council.[9][5]

Political positions & notable legislation

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He was pro-life.[10] In 1989, he was opposed to a gay rights bill which would have prohibited discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, employment and credit.[11] Some believe this action may have costed him his seat in the 1992 State Senate election to Therese Murray.[12] He successfully helped pass legislation which went toward economic development for Whitman, the South Shore, the return of commuter rail service from Boston to Plymouth, the Big Dig, and the Old Colony Lines.[10]

Later career

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He was appointed as a Administrative Law Judge by Governor Bill Weld, and was an Appeals Judge in Workers Compensation.[10][6][9]

Personal life

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He and his wife Mary Alice Kirby had three children.[10]

Death

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He died on January 3, 2017.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Nationwide Gravesite Locator (Veterans Affairs)
  2. ^ Obituary
  3. ^ a b c d e 1991–1992 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  4. ^ "Edward P. Kirby". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Guide to the Edward Kirby Collection, 1954-2004
  6. ^ a b About Ned
  7. ^ Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1961-1962)
  8. ^ 2004 State Representative General Election - 7th Plymouth District
  9. ^ a b c Senator Kirby Endorses Mark Alliegro
  10. ^ a b c d e Edward P. "Ned" Kirby, Veteran - January 03, 2017
  11. ^ Bulger Hastens Gay Rights Bill
  12. ^ A true public servant: Whitman mourns former state Sen. Ned Kirby