Paul J. Kilday
Encyclopedia
Paul Joseph Kilday was a U.S. Representative
from Texas
.
, Kilday was the sixth child of Patrick Kilday, an immigrant from Ireland who was established as a merchant, and his Texas-born wife, Mary Tallant Kilday. Kilday moved with his parents and siblings to San Antonio
in 1904. He attended public and parochial schools there, graduating in 1918, and then went on to St. Mary's College in the same city.
While attending law school, Kilday was employed as a clerk for the United States Air Force
in Washington, D.C.
from 1918 to 1921 and as a law clerk for United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, in 1921 and 1922. He graduated with an LL.B. degree from the law department of Georgetown University
, Washington, D.C., in 1922. He was admitted to the bar
the same year and commenced practice in San Antonio, Texas
. At one point, he went into practice with Harry Howard
, who later became a judge and president of the San Antonio Bar Association.
Kilday himself served as first assistant district attorney of Bexar County, Texas
from 1935 to 1938. He was elected by the Twentieth District of Texas as a Democrat
to the Seventy-sixth
and to the eleven succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1939, until his resignation September 24, 1961, having been appointed a judge of the United States Court of Military Appeals by President John F. Kennedy
. Kilday served in this capacity until his death, in Washington, D.C.
. Kilday was followed in Congress by Henry Barbosa Gonzalez. He had been preceded by Maury Maverick
.
He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia. Long-time family political ally Lyndon Johnson, president at the time, attended the interment. Kilday's biographical page at a site commemorating veterans buried in Arlington notes:
He had married Cecile Newton on August 9, 1932. She survived him, as did two daughters, Mary Catherine Kilday and Betty Ann Drogula, and two granddaughters, Cynthia L. Drogula and Jennifer M. Drogula. Two additional grandchildren followed his death, Fred K. Drogula and Elizabeth A. Drogula.
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 Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Early life and education
Born in SabinalSabinal, Texas
Sabinal is a town in Uvalde County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sabinal is located at ....
, Kilday was the sixth child of Patrick Kilday, an immigrant from Ireland who was established as a merchant, and his Texas-born wife, Mary Tallant Kilday. Kilday moved with his parents and siblings to San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in 1904. He attended public and parochial schools there, graduating in 1918, and then went on to St. Mary's College in the same city.
While attending law school, Kilday was employed as a clerk for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
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 1918 to 1921 and as a law clerk for United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, in 1921 and 1922. He graduated with an LL.B. degree from the law department of Georgetown University
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
, Washington, D.C., in 1922. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year and commenced practice in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. At one point, he went into practice with Harry Howard
Harry Howard
Harry Howard is the name of:* Harry Howard , English footballer* Harry Howard , Australian landscape architect* Harry Howard , Australian bass guitarist-See also:...
, who later became a judge and president of the San Antonio Bar Association.
Kilday himself served as first assistant district attorney of Bexar County, Texas
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
from 1935 to 1938. He was elected by the Twentieth District of Texas 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 Seventy-sixth
76th United States Congress
The Seventy-sixth 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, 1939 to January 3, 1941, during the seventh and...
and to the eleven succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1939, until his resignation September 24, 1961, having been appointed a judge of the United States Court of Military Appeals by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. Kilday served in this capacity until his death, 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....
. Kilday was followed in Congress by Henry Barbosa Gonzalez. He had been preceded by Maury Maverick
Maury Maverick
Fontaine Maury Maverick was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas from January 3, 1935, to January 3, 1939. He is best remembered for his independence from the party and for coining the term "gobbledygook" for obscure and euphemistic bureaucratic language...
.
He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia. Long-time family political ally Lyndon Johnson, president at the time, attended the interment. Kilday's biographical page at a site commemorating veterans buried in Arlington notes:
He had married Cecile Newton on August 9, 1932. She survived him, as did two daughters, Mary Catherine Kilday and Betty Ann Drogula, and two granddaughters, Cynthia L. Drogula and Jennifer M. Drogula. Two additional grandchildren followed his death, Fred K. Drogula and Elizabeth A. Drogula.
External links
- A Guide to the Paul Kilday Papers, 1938-1961 at the Center for American History of the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
- A Photo of Paul Kilday at Baylor UniversityBaylor UniversityBaylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
.