William J. Green Jr.


William Joseph Green Jr. was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Biography

William J. Green was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Irish immigrants. He graduated from St. Joseph's Preparatory School, and attended St. Joseph's College, Philadelphia, PA. He was engaged in business as an insurance broker in Philadelphia in 1937. He served in the United States Army as a private in the Quartermaster Corps from March 22, 1944, to December 4, 1944.
He was elected to Congress in 1944, and after a defeat in the Republican landslide year of 1946, was reelected to Congress in 1948 and every two years thereafter until his death at age 53. He had been elected Democratic City Chairman in 1953, and, in that role, held until his death, he helped solidify Philadelphia as a Democratic stronghold.
Green died of peritonitis and gall bladder complications in Philadelphia on December 21, 1963. He was succeeded in Congress by his son, William J. Green, III, who was 25 years old at the time of his first election, and later became Mayor of Philadelphia.
The William J. Green Jr. Federal Building, on 6th and Arch Streets in Philadelphia, is named for him.