James A. Haley
Encyclopedia
James Andrew Haley was a U.S. Representative
from Florida
.
Born in Jacksonville, Alabama
, Haley attended the public schools and the University of Alabama
. During World War I, Haley enlisted in Troop A, Second Cavalry, in April 1917 and served overseas. He was an accountant in Sarasota, Florida
from 1920 to 1933. He served as general manager of John Ringling estate 1933–1943.
From 1943 to 1945 he was the first vice president of Ringling Circus and president and director of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey. In 1944, a fire broke out at a Ringling Circus show
in Hartford, Connecticut
that killed 169 persons. As a result of the fire he and five other circus officials pleaded no contest
to charges of involuntary manslaughter and were sentenced to prison. He served eight months in 1945 was returned to Florida, where he received a pardon.
Haley worked for the Bailey Circus, of Sarasota, Florida
, from 1946 to 1948. He engaged in newspaper publishing and later in general printing business. He served as chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Sarasota County 1935–1952. He served as member of the Florida House of Representatives
from 1949 to 1952. From 1952 to 1960, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions.
Haley was elected as a Democrat
to the Eighty-third
and to the eleven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977). He served as chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs (Ninety-third
and Ninety-fourth
Congresses). He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fifth
Congress in 1976.
Haley died on August 6, 1981, in Sarasota, Florida
. He was interred in Boca Raton Cemetery, Boca Raton, Florida
. The James A. Haley Veterans Hospital located in Tampa, Florida
is named in his honor.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Born in Jacksonville, Alabama
Jacksonville, Alabama
Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. which is a 49% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Haley attended the public schools and the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. During World War I, Haley enlisted in Troop A, Second Cavalry, in April 1917 and served overseas. He was an accountant in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
from 1920 to 1933. He served as general manager of John Ringling estate 1933–1943.
From 1943 to 1945 he was the first vice president of Ringling Circus and president and director of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey. In 1944, a fire broke out at a Ringling Circus show
Hartford Circus Fire
The Hartford Circus Fire, which occurred on July 6, 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut, was one of the worst fire disasters in the history of the United States...
in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
that killed 169 persons. As a result of the fire he and five other circus officials pleaded no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
to charges of involuntary manslaughter and were sentenced to prison. He served eight months in 1945 was returned to Florida, where he received a pardon.
Haley worked for the Bailey Circus, of Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
, from 1946 to 1948. He engaged in newspaper publishing and later in general printing business. He served as chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Sarasota County 1935–1952. He served as member of the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
from 1949 to 1952. From 1952 to 1960, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions.
Haley was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Eighty-third
83rd United States Congress
The Eighty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1953 to January 3, 1955, during the first two years...
and to the eleven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977). He served as chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs (Ninety-third
93rd United States Congress
The Ninety-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1973 to January 3, 1975, during the end of Richard...
and Ninety-fourth
94th United States Congress
The Ninety-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1975 to January 3, 1977, during the administration...
Congresses). He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fifth
95th United States Congress
The Ninety-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1979, during the first two years...
Congress in 1976.
Haley died on August 6, 1981, in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
. He was interred in Boca Raton Cemetery, Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
. The James A. Haley Veterans Hospital located in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
is named in his honor.