William F. Hyland
Encyclopedia
William F. 'Bill' Hyland (born July 30, 1923) is an American
lawyer and Democratic Party politician who served as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
and Attorney General of New Jersey. Later in life he was a partner in the law firm of Riker Danzig
and the executor of the estate of Benny Goodman
.
, New Jersey
in 1923. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
in 1944. From a young age he was an accomplished clarinet
ist, and he worked his way through college by playing with dance bands.
During World War II
, he served as a Lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Navy
. He took part in convoy
duty in the Battle of the Atlantic, as well as in the Battle of Iwo Jima
and the Battle of Luzon
.
Hyland graduated from University of Pennsylvania Law School
in 1949 and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in the same year. He became involved in Democratic politics in Camden County
, and was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
in 1954. He served as Speaker of the Assembly in 1958.
Hyland resigned from the Assembly in 1961 when he was nominated by Governor Robert B. Meyner
to be the president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
. Hyland was one of Meyner's choices to succeed him as the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey
in 1961, but he lost the nomination to Richard J. Hughes
.
He continued serving on the Public Utilities Board until 1968, when he resigned to return to his law practice in Camden. He returned to public service when Governor Hughes nominated him to be the chairman of the newly created New Jersey State Commission of Investigation
. The Commission succeeded in jailing reputed leaders of organized crime on contempt of court
charges for refusing to divulge knowledge of criminal activities.
In 1970 Hyland resigned and again returned to his private law practice. In December 1973, Governor-elect Brendan Byrne
nominated Hyland as Attorney General of New Jersey. He served from 1974 to 1978, and then joined the law firm Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Debvois and Hyland (later known as Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti
). He retired from the firm in 2006.
Hyland continued performing as a clarinetist even while serving as Attorney General. In 1976, he had the opportunity to play with Benny Goodman
, and the two struck up a friendship. Goodman named him the legal and musical consultant for his estate, responsible for deciding which previously unreleased recordings were appropriate for release. Upon Goodman's death in 1986, Hyland served as executor of his estate.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and Democratic Party politician who served as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
and Attorney General of New Jersey. Later in life he was a partner in the law firm of Riker Danzig
Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti
Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP , is a law firm based in Morristown, New Jersey. Founded in 1882, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious firms in the state of New Jersey...
and the executor of the estate of Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
.
Biography
Hyland was born in BurlingtonBurlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1923. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wharton was the world’s first collegiate business school and the first business school in the United States...
in 1944. From a young age he was an accomplished clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist, and he worked his way through college by playing with dance bands.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served as a Lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He took part in convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
duty in the Battle of the Atlantic, as well as in the Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
and the Battle of Luzon
Battle of Luzon
The Battle of Luzon was a land battle fought as part of the Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II by the Allied forces of the U.S., its colony The Philippines, and Mexico against forces of the Empire of Japan. The battle resulted in a U.S. and Filipino victory...
.
Hyland graduated from University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Law School, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Ivy League, it is among the oldest and most selective law schools in the nation. It is currently ranked 7th overall by U.S. News & World Report,...
in 1949 and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in the same year. He became involved in Democratic politics in Camden County
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
, and was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
in 1954. He served as Speaker of the Assembly in 1958.
Hyland resigned from the Assembly in 1961 when he was nominated by Governor Robert B. Meyner
Robert B. Meyner
Robert Baumle Meyner of Phillipsburg, New Jersey was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 44th Governor of New Jersey, from 1954 to 1962...
to be the president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is a regulatory authority in New Jersey charged with the responsibility of seeing that "safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey." The NJBPU regulates natural gas, electricity, water,...
. Hyland was one of Meyner's choices to succeed him as the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
in 1961, but he lost the nomination to Richard J. Hughes
Richard J. Hughes
Richard Joseph Hughes was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 45th Governor of New Jersey from 1962 to 1970, and as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973–1979...
.
He continued serving on the Public Utilities Board until 1968, when he resigned to return to his law practice in Camden. He returned to public service when Governor Hughes nominated him to be the chairman of the newly created New Jersey State Commission of Investigation
New Jersey State Commission of Investigation
The New Jersey State Commission of Investigation is an independent governmental fact-finding agency in the U.S. State of New Jersey whose mission is to identify and investigate organized crime, corruption and waste, fraud and abuse in government spending by state, municipal and school...
. The Commission succeeded in jailing reputed leaders of organized crime on contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
charges for refusing to divulge knowledge of criminal activities.
In 1970 Hyland resigned and again returned to his private law practice. In December 1973, Governor-elect Brendan Byrne
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...
nominated Hyland as Attorney General of New Jersey. He served from 1974 to 1978, and then joined the law firm Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Debvois and Hyland (later known as Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti
Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti
Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP , is a law firm based in Morristown, New Jersey. Founded in 1882, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious firms in the state of New Jersey...
). He retired from the firm in 2006.
Hyland continued performing as a clarinetist even while serving as Attorney General. In 1976, he had the opportunity to play with Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, and the two struck up a friendship. Goodman named him the legal and musical consultant for his estate, responsible for deciding which previously unreleased recordings were appropriate for release. Upon Goodman's death in 1986, Hyland served as executor of his estate.
External links
- William F. Hyland at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...
- Official bio, Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey