Thomas P. Costin Jr. Explained

Thomas P. Costin Jr.
Office:45th Mayor of
Lynn, Massachusetts
Term Start:1956
Term End:July 3, 1961
Office2:Member of the
Lynn, Massachusetts
City Council
Term Start2:1947
Term End2:1955
Spouse:Rosemary
Party:Democrat
Allegiance:United States of America[1]
Branch:U.S. Marines
Battles:World War II

Thomas P. Costin Jr. (born 1926) is an American former politician in the state of Massachusetts who served as the 45th Mayor of Lynn, Massachusetts.

Costin served eight years on the Lynn City Council before being elected mayor in 1956. At the age of 29, he became the youngest mayor in Lynn's history.[1]

As mayor, he proposed and spearheaded an urban renewal plan which targeted the Brickyard neighborhood of Lynn in an effort to make the city more attractive to industry and give it the ability to compete with surrounding communities' shopping malls but the program ultimately failed to deliver on its promises.

A close friend of John F. Kennedy, Costin lead the voter registration drive during Kennedy's 1958 Senate Reelection campaign. Costin was a Kennedy delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Conventions. Costin was appointed Lynn District postmaster by the President in 1961.[1] He served as Postmaster until 1992.[2] He was reportedly a finalist for the position of United States Postmaster General in 1976.[3] In late 2018, the Post Office building in which Costin served as postmaster was renamed in his honor by an Act of Congress. The official dedication ceremony was held on May 24, 2019.

In August 2020, Costin led a rally against proposed cuts to the U.S. Postal Service.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Essex National Heritage Commission to honor Tom Costin . . May 12, 2009 . 2009-12-18 .
  2. Web site: LYNN POST OFFICE TO BE DEDICATED IN HONOR OF THOMAS P. COSTIN JR. . Jourgensen . Thor . May 22, 2019 . Itemlive.com . The Daily Item . May 22, 2019 . Costin served as Lynn postmaster from 1961 to 1992.
  3. News: Postmasters considered . 5 . . December 8, 1976 . 2009-12-18 .
  4. News: Congressman and Costin rally disgruntled postal supporters . 4 July 2023 . The Daily Item . 19 August 2020 . A1.