Frank X. Graves, Jr.

Frank Xavier Graves Jr. (November 4, 1923 – March 4, 1990) was an American Democratic Party politician who is best known for serving two separate terms as Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey. He also served on the Paterson City Council, the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders and in the New Jersey Senate in his long career.

Early days Graves was born in Paterson and lived there for most of his life. His father, Frank Sr., worked as a reporter for the Paterson Evening News and also ran a successful vending machine company. Following his graduation from Eastside High School he enrolled at the University of Virginia, but left shortly thereafter to enlist in World War II, serving with the 50th Armored Division. He was injured while serving in Europe and met his wife, Ethel, convalescing from shrapnel wounds. They were married when they returned to the United States.

While serving in the State Senate, Graves pushed for stiff penalties for criminal offenses, and in 1981 wrote a law concerning gun-related offenses. The Graves Act, as it was called, mandated a minimum three-year sentence for anyone who used a firearm in commission of a crime. (A recent expansion of the law, which was also made a part of 2008 anti-gang legislation, specifies that a three- to five-year sentence is prescribed for these offenses).

Death As 1990 began Graves was making plans to run for a third consecutive term as mayor of Paterson, as the same law changes that lengthened a mayor's term of office also removed the limits on how many consecutive terms a mayor could serve. It would not come to pass, however. On the morning of March 4, 1990, at his home in Paterson's Lakeview section, Graves was stricken with a massive heart attack.