George Woody, first Black county chairman in N.J., dies at 95 – New Jersey Globe

George G. Woody, Jr., a former Republican councilman in Roselle who later switched events to develop into New Jersey’s first Black county chairman, died on Might 20.  He was 95.

Woody grew to become the primary Black to win a seat on the Roselle Metropolis Council in 1957.  He ran on a ticket headed by Republican gubernatorial candidate Malcolm S. Forbes, who unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Robert Meyner that 12 months.

He switched events in 1960 and was re-elected as a Democrat.  On the time, Roselle was thought-about a swing city: Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy gained 51%  and Republican U.S. Senator Clifford Case, who lived in Rahway, acquired 60%.    He served as council president.

Woody was a Democratic candidate for the New Jersey State Meeting in 1963, at a time when Union County’s 5 decrease home seats have been all elected in at-large elections.  Democrats had gained 4 of the 5 seats in 1961 – solely Republican Nelson Stamler (R-Union) had survived.

Stamler ran for the Senate in 1963, and Republicans Peter J. McDonough (R-Plainfield), Frank X. McDermott (R-Westfield), Nicholas St. John LaCorte (R-Elizabeth) and Loree Collins (R-Summit) have been the highest 4 vote-getters.  Assemblywoman Mildred Barry Hughes (D-Union) edged out Mountainside Councilman Henry Wester by 1,684 votes to win re-election to a 3rd time period.

Assemblyman Jerome Krueger (D-Linden) was unseated and Woody completed final, ending 6,600 votes behind Hughes.

Woody ran once more for the Meeting in 1965, and with Democratic Gov. Richard J. Hughes heading the ticket  — he carried Union County by 13 share factors – he almost gained.

Democrats gained three of the 5 seats and Woody got here with 875 votes of ousting McDermott, who would go on to win a State Senate seat in 1967, function Senate President, and run for governor in 1969.  Collins was defeated; Hughes and McDonough confronted off when reapportionment gave Union County a second State Senate seat; Hughes gained by 1,841 votes to develop into the primary girl to serve within the New Jersey Senate.

Woody grew to become the Roselle Democratic Municipal Chairman in 1969.  He had additionally served as govt director of the New Jersey City Mortgage Authority.

After Donald Lan introduced in June 1977 that he wouldn’t search a 3rd time period as Union County Democratic Chairman – he would later be nominated by Gov. Brendan Byrne to function New Jersey Secretary of State – Woody grew to become a candidate to succeed him.

He defeated Freeholder Chairman John Mollozzi of Roselle Park by a vote of 285 to 192.

Woody held Mollozzi to a 62 to 46 win in Elizabeth, even  although Mollozzi’s regulation companion, David Conti, had been elected Elizabeth Democratic Municipal Chairman the night time earlier than.

In the identical race, Charlotte DeFilippo, who would later develop into the state’s first girl get together boss, ousted Thomas DeLuca for the put up of comptroller of the Union County Democratic Committee.

That was the third loss in 5 months for Mollozzi.  He had began the 12 months because the front-runner for the open twenty first district State Senate seat however stepped apart in order that Union Mayor Anthony E. Russo might run.  He then grew to become a candidate for the State Meeting, however Democrats went in a unique route.

Woody didn’t search re-election in 1978 and was changed by Harry P. Pappas.   He later served as chairman of the Union County Enchancment Authority.

A U.S. Navy veteran throughout World Conflict II, Woody  was the founding father of the G.G. Woody Funeral House in Roselle

The block of ninth Avenue between Chester and Walnut Streets in Roselle was named G.G. Woody Approach in tribute to the previous council president.

Woody was predeceased by his spouse, Beulah, and a son, George III.  He’s survived by his two daughters and his grandchildren.