Leo William O'Brien

Leo William O'Brien (September 21, 1900 – May 4, 1982) was an American journalist, radio and television commentator, and politician. A Democrat, he was most notable for his seven terms of service as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1952 to 1966. Patrick O'Brien was a Buffalo-area building contractor who later became responsible for construction at Niagara University. Leo O'Brien was a 1918 graduate of Buffalo's St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute and graduated from Niagara University in 1922.

Early career O'Brien worked as a newspaper journalist for the International News Service, and Albany Knickerbocker Press and Times-Union. secretary, vice president, and president. O'Brien later became a radio and television commentator. He was buried at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands. They were the parents of a son, Robert. It is located at the corner of Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, and contains facilities including a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).

Honorary degrees In 1959, O'Brien received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in recognition of his efforts to promote Alaska statehood. In 1960, O'Brien received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Niagara University.

In 1961, he received an honorary LL.D. from Siena College. In May 1966, O'Brien received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Albany College of Pharmacy.

As additional recognition of his Alaska statehood efforts, in 1964 the state government named Mount Terrance, a mountain near Haines, Alaska after O'Brien's 10-year-old grandson.