James O'Dea Jr.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James O'Dea Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| District Attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts | |
| In office 1957–1959 | |
| Preceded by | Ephraim Martin |
| Succeeded by | John J. Droney |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 15th Middlesex district | |
| In office 1949–1957 | |
| Preceded by | James J. Bruin |
| Succeeded by | Cornelius T. Finnegan Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Lawrence O'Dea Jr. August 25, 1922 |
| Died | April 4, 1995 (aged 72) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Carol Gibbons (1944–1959; divorce) Johanna Mahoney |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Notre Dame Harvard Law School Harvard University |
| Occupation | Attorney |
James Lawrence O'Dea Jr. (August 25, 1922 – April 4, 1995) was an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and District Attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
O'Dea was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on August 25, 1922. His mother died when he was three months old and he was raised by his father and aunt. He graduated from Lowell High School in 1940.[1] He served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He resumed his education after the war and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1945 and Harvard Law School in 1948. He later earned a master's degree in political science from Harvard University. He practiced law in Lowell with F. Bradford Morse.[2]