Earl Brydges

Earl William Brydges (May 25, 1905 – March 30, 1975) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Temporary President and Majority Leader of the State Senate from 1966 to 1972. Brydges served as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Mental Health. Court ordered voting rights redistricting lead to senators serving one year terms in 1965 and 1966. The Republican Party regained the majority in 1966, and Brydges became Majority Leader. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1967.

Acting Governor of New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller and Majority Leader Earl BrydgesIn 1972, both Rockefeller and Lt. Gov. Malcolm Wilson left the state on the same afternoon. Under the state constitution, this made Brydges the Acting Governor of New York for several hours. As acting governor, Brydges signed routine state paperwork and conducted Senate business. He did not sign any legislation into law, including a pending bill relating to Niagara Falls that he had sponsored.

Personal life He married Eleanor C. Mahoney. Together, they had five sons and two daughters, including: Dennis Brydges, who married Evelyn Olson in 1967 Thomas Eugene Brydges, who married Melissa MacLeod May in 1990. William Brydges This was Rockefeller's first visit to Upstate New York as vice president.

Honors The Earl W. Brydges Artpark in Lewiston, New York, an outdoor theater and concert center that he championed, was named in his honor. In addition, the main public library in Niagara Falls, the Earl W. Brydges Library, designed by architect Paul Rudolph, was named after him.