William Arthur PURTELL, Congress, CT (1897-1978)

PURTELL, William Arthur, a Senator from Connecticut; born in Hartford, Conn., May 6, 1897; attended the public and parochial schools; during the First World War enlisted in the United States Army in 1918 and was discharged as a corporal in 1919; engaged as a salesman 1919-1929; organizer, president, treasurer, and general manager of the Holo-Krome Screw Corp.; also was director and officer of many other business enterprises; unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 1950; appointed on August 29, 1952, as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Brien McMahon and served from August 29, 1952, to November 4, 1952, when a successor was duly elected; was not a candidate for election to the vacancy; elected to the United State Senate November 4, 1952, for a full six-year term and served from January 3, 1953, to January 3, 1959; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1958; resumed manufacturing interests; resided in West Hartford, Conn., where he died May 31, 1978; interment in Fairview Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present