Joseph H. Freehill

Joseph Hugh "Joe" Freehill (September 22, 1908 – January 21, 1959) was a lawyer and the supervisor from the Falls Church District from 1956 to 1959.

Early life and education

The son of James Freehill and the former Isabella Hewitt, Joseph Freehill was born in New York City and grew up in Middletown, New York, graduating from Middletown High School in 1928.[1] He attended Fordham University, graduating in 1932, and Harvard Law School, graduating in 1935.[2]

Professional and political career

Freehill joined government service, working for the Puerto Rico Reconstruction administration and later for the Railroad Retirement board, where he served as general counsel beginning in 1942.[3]

Freehill resigned from the government in 1944 to go into private practice with three other attorneys, Lester P. Shoene, Milton Kramer and Joseph A. Fanelli, forming the firm of Schoene, Freehill, Kramer and Fanelli.[4]

Freehill left the firm, which had become Schoene, Freehill, Kramer & Davis, and became associate counsel for the Senate Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations.[3]

Freehill returned to government service in February 1951, working for the Office of Price Stabilization, which was created to implement price controls during the Korean War, and on April 21, 1952, Freehill was appointed deputy administrator.[5] Following O.P.S Director Tighe E. Woods' abrupt resignation in November 1952, Freehill became acting director, and was formally appointed director by President Harry S. Truman the following month.[6][7]

After President Dwight D. Eisenhower took office and the provisions of the Defense Production Act of 1950 that had created it expired, the Office of Price Stabilization was rapidly dismantled, and Freehill resigned from the office on July 1, 1953.[8][9]

Following his resignation, Freehill formed another legal partnership with Joseph A. Fanelli, the Washington, D.C. firm of Fanelli & Freehill.[10]

In April 1955, Freehill announced he would seek election to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, representing the Falls Church District.[11] He defeated Elizabeth G. Straus for the Democratic nomination in the party's July primary.[12]

Freehill would go on to defeat Republican Arthur F. Beck and Independent Walter B. Jameson in the election of November 8, 1955. He was sworn in on December 22, 1955.[13]

At the new board's first meeting on January 4, 1956, Freehill was elected chairman.[14]

On January 20, 1958, Freehill declared his candidacy for the Virginia's 10th congressional district.[10][15] Despite being labeled as an integrationist by his opponents because of his stance that public schools should remain open rather than follow the "massive resistance" strategy of closing them rather than allowing black children to attend, Freehill handily won the Democratic nomination in the July 15 primary, defeating challengers Henry J. Rolfs, Ruby A. Hanowell and Chandler H. Lapsley.[16][17]

Republican incumbent Joel T. Broyhill defeated Freehill in the general election of November 4, 1958.[18]

Death

Shortly after the start of the BoS meeting of January 21, 1959, Freehill excused himself, saying he felt unwell. Fairfax County Health Officer Dr. Harold F. Kennedy accompanied Freehill out of the meeting, and determined he was having a heart attack. Freehill was taken to the Arlington Hospital, where he died later that evening.[1]

Freehill was buried at the Saint James Cemetery in the City of Falls Church.

Personal life

Freehill married the former Mary Norbury Cordner on March 17, 1935, and the couple would go on to have six children.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Landauer, Jerry. "Supervisor Freehill Dies After Heart Attack." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 2. Jan 22 1959. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  2. ↑ "FORDHAM TO AWARD 680 DEGREES TODAY." New York Times (1923-Current file): 16. Jun 08 1932. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "JOSEPH H. FREEHILL, EX-PRICE STABILIZER." New York Times (1923-Current file): 31. Jan 22 1959. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  4. ↑ Kluttz, Jerry. "The Federal Diary." The Washington Post (1923-1954): 9. Sep 08 1944. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  5. ↑ "O. P. S. Promotes J. H. Freehill." New York Times (1923-Current file): 11. Apr 22 1952. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  6. ↑ "TIGHE WOODS QUITS, CALLS CONTROL LAW 'WEAK' AND UNFAIR." New York Times (1923-Current file): 1. Nov 25 1952. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017 .
  7. ↑ Roberts, Chalmers M. "President to Act on WSB Today." The Washington Post (1923-1954): 1. Dec 13 1952. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  8. ↑ "Two Resignations Accepted." New York Times (1923-Current file): 15. Jul 02 1953. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  9. ↑ "Freehill and Lassater Resignations Accepted." The Washington Post (1923-1954): 34. Jul 02 1953. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Freehill's 1st Job is to Build Unity." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 1. Jul 16 1958. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  11. ↑ "Freehill and Wills are Candidates for Fairfax Board of Supervisors." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 26. Apr 08 1955. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  12. ↑ Smith, Marie. "Fairfax Casts 33 Pct. Vote" The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 22. Jul 14 1955. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  13. ↑ "New Board is Sworn in at Fairfax." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 26. Dec 23 1955. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  14. ↑ "Fairfax Supervisors Elect Freehill as Head." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 17. Jan 05 1956. ProQuest. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.
  15. ↑ "Freehill Announces Bid for Seat Broyhill Holds." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 1. Jan 21 1958. ProQuest. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
  16. ↑ "Rival Democrats Argue and Disregard Broyhill." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 1. Jul 11 1958. ProQuest. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
  17. ↑ Baker, Robert E."10th Gives Nomination to Freehill." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 1. Jul 16 1958. ProQuest. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
  18. ↑ Carper, Elsie. "Broyhill Wins Over Freehill in N. Virginia." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 2. Nov 05 1958. ProQuest. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
Preceded by
Anne A. Wilkins
Supervisor from the Falls Church District
1956 – 1959
Succeeded by
Thomas S. Gray