Harry R. J. Comer Explained

Harry R. J. Comer
State House:	Pennsylvania
District:	178th
Term Start:	1969
Term End:	1974
Predecessor:	District created
Successor:	James M. McIntyre
State House2:	Pennsylvania
District2:	Philadelphia County
Term Start2:	1953
Term End2:	1968
Birth Date:	20 January 1912
Birth Place:	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Death Place:	Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Party:	Democratic

Harry Robert Joseph Comer (January 20, 1912 – March 15, 1990) was a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.^[1]

Formative years

Harry Robert Joseph Comer was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 20, 1912. During World War II, he served as a corporal with the U.S. Army. As an adult, he was employed as an insurance broker and real estate agent.^[2]

Political career

A Democrat, he was appointed as the chair of Philadelphia's 33rd Ward Democratic Executive Committee. Elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1953, he served 10 consecutive terms, during which time he represented Philadelphia County and was appointed to the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (1963-1966) and the Pennsylvania Commission on Interstate Cooperation (1969-1974).^[3]

After failing in his run for reelection to the Pennsylvania House for its 1975 term, he served as the legislative liaison for the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1974 to 1978.^[4]

Death and interment

Comer died in Elkins Park, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on March 15, 1990, and was interred at the Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.^{[5] [6]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cox . Harold . House Members C . Wilkes University . Wilkes University Election Statistics Project.
2. "Harry R.J. Comer" (biography). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania House of Representatives, retrieved online May 15, 2019.
3. "Harry R.J. Comer," Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
4. "Harry R.J. Comer," Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
5. News: Harry R. J. Comer, 78, legislator for 21 years . The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 17, 1990 . Harry R.J. Comer, 78, a flinty former state representative from Kensington who during 21 years in Harrisburg railed against murderers, rapists and reporters, died Thursday at his home in Elkins Park. Mr. Comer was a politician who said what was on his mind. It went over well with his conservative constituents until Mr. Comer ran afoul of another outspoken politician, former Mayor Frank L. Rizzo. Mr. Comer, a Democrat who served as a state representative from 1953 until 1974... .
6. "Harry R.J. Comer," Pennsylvania House of Representatives.