Thomas A. Burke

Democrat Senator of Ohio

Congresses Served

Senate Terms

January 1, 1898 (73 years old)

Birthday

January 1, 1971

Death

Served as the 48th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, from 1946 to 1953.
Served in the United States Senate from November 10, 1953, until December 2, 1954.
Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is named in his honor.
Served in the United States Army during World War I.
Graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1920 and from Western Reserve University School of Law in 1923.
Began his political career as an assistant county prosecutor in 1930.
Appointed as special counsel in an election fraud case in Lawrence County, Ohio, in 1937.
Became vice mayor and the Director of Law for Cleveland in 1941.
Defeated Ray C. Miller and Eliot Ness in mayoral elections, securing re-election multiple times.
Credited with improvements at the site that became Burke Lakefront Airport.
Served as the president of the United States Conference of Mayors in 1953.
Appointed to the U.S. Senate to succeed Robert A. Taft, ran for election to serve the remainder of Taft’s term but was defeated by George H. Bender.
Resumed practicing law after his defeat in the Senate election, forming a notable law firm.
Married to Josephine (Lyon) Burke and had two daughters.
Died on December 5, 1971, and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland.