List growing of high state officials hailing from York County
State Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf addresses the YorkCounts Summit in March. He is the latest in a string of York County residents who have held high office in Harrisburg.
Our quest for high state and federal state office holders from York County's past started when Tom Wolf was under consideration for state treasurer.
Soon thereafter, we added former state attorney general Robert P. Kane to the list.
I found more in reading the appendix to Georg Sheets' "Lawyers and Leaders: The Role of Lawyers in the Development of York County, Pennsylvania." (Order through York County Heritage Trust.
Here is Sheets' list of county residents who became state administrative officials (concentrating on lawyers) between 1950-2000 (some of which duplicates mine):
-- Samuel S. Lewis, secretary of forest and waters, 1952-1954.
-- Herbert B. Cohen, attorney general, 1954-1956.
-- Henry B. Leader, legislative secretary to governor (and governer George B. Leader), 1955-1959.
-- Michael R. Deckman: deputy chief counsel, PennDOT, 1957-1985.
-- Gerald E. Ruth, Constitutional Convention delegate, 1967-1968.
-- Daniel W. Shoemaker, Constitutional Convention delegate, 1967-1968.
-- John R. Gailey, Jr.: Legislative Reference Bureau director, 1968-1972.
-- Jane M. Alexander: director, bureau of Foods and Chemistry, 1972; deputy secretary of Agriculture (1972-1977).
-- Robert P. Kane: secretary of Revenue (1971-1974); attorney general, 1975-1978.
-- Jesse L. Crabbs: chairman, state Harness Racing Commission, 1979-1987.
-- Robert L. Cable: director, Legislative Reference Bureau, 1981-1986.
