Joseph P. Vigorito
Encyclopedia
Joseph Phillip Vigorito was a Democratic
member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania
.
Joe Vigorito was born in Niles, Ohio
. He served in the United States Army
from 1942 to 1945 and was awarded the Purple Heart
. After serving in the military, he graduated in 1947 from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia and received an MBA from the University of Denver
in 1949. He was a member of the faculty at Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania
, from 1949 to 1964.
In 1964, Vigorito was elected to Congress from a district based in Erie
as part of the gigantic Democratic landslide of that year. He was reelected five more times before being defeated in 1976 by Mercer County
Solicitor Marc L. Marks
. After his time in Congress, he served on the faculty of Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.
, from 1977 through 1978. He tried to regain his seat in 1978, but was badly defeated by Marks. He died in Washington, D.C.
Vigorito was the only Democrat to represent the Erie area in the 20th century; after his loss, no Democrat represented it until Kathy Dahlkemper
won it in 2008.
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...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Joe Vigorito was born in Niles, Ohio
Niles, Ohio
Niles is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. The city's population was 20,932 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1942 to 1945 and was awarded the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. After serving in the military, he graduated in 1947 from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in Philadelphia and received an MBA from the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
in 1949. He was a member of the faculty at Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
, from 1949 to 1964.
In 1964, Vigorito was elected to Congress from a district based in Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
as part of the gigantic Democratic landslide of that year. He was reelected five more times before being defeated in 1976 by Mercer County
Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 116,638. Its county seat is Mercer; Sharon is its largest city....
Solicitor Marc L. Marks
Marc L. Marks
Marc Lincoln Marks, , Farrell, Pennsylvania, USA, is a Republican ex-member of the U.S. House of Representatives.Marks served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1945 to 1946...
. After his time in Congress, he served on the faculty of Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, from 1977 through 1978. He tried to regain his seat in 1978, but was badly defeated by Marks. He died in Washington, D.C.
Vigorito was the only Democrat to represent the Erie area in the 20th century; after his loss, no Democrat represented it until Kathy Dahlkemper
Kathy Dahlkemper
Kathleen Ann "Kathy" Dahlkemper is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district is based in Erie and includes most of the northwestern portion of the state....
won it in 2008.