James F. Hastings

James Fred Hastings (April 10, 1926 – October 24, 2014) was an American radio station executive and a Republican politician from New York.

James F. Hastings
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
January 3, 1969 – January 20, 1976
Preceded byCharles E. Goodell
Succeeded byStanley N. Lundine
Constituency38th district (1969–73)
39th district (1973–76)
Member of the
New York State Senate
In office
January 1, 1966 – December 31, 1968
Preceded byNone (district created)
Succeeded byJess J. Present
Constituency65th district (1966)
57th district (1967–68)
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the Cattaraugus district
In office
January 1, 1963 – December 31, 1965
Preceded byJeremiah J. Moriarty
Succeeded byNone (district eliminated)
Personal details
Born
James Fred Hastings

(1926-04-10)April 10, 1926
Olean, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 24, 2014(2014-10-24) (aged 88)
Allegany, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Barbara Gaylor
Kathleen Smith
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1943–1946
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life

Hastings was born on April 10, 1926, in Olean, New York. He graduated from Allegany Central School in 1943, and joined the United States Navy for World War II. After he returned home in 1946 he worked as a carpenter, and then worked as a sales representative for Procter & Gamble.

Hastings later became active in several businesses, including manager and vice president of radio station WHDL from 1952-1966, national advertising manager for the Times Herald newspaper in Olean from 1964-1966, and a partner in the real estate and insurance firm of Hastings & Jewell.

He was a member of the Allegany Town Board from 1953 to 1962, and was the town's police court justice for five years.

Political career

Hastings was a member the New York State Assembly (Cattaraugus Co.) from 1963 to 1965, sitting in the 174th and 175th New York State Legislatures; and a member of the New York State Senate from 1966 to 1968, sitting in the 176th and 177th New York State Legislatures. He was a delegate to the 1968 and 1972 Republican National Conventions.

He was elected as a Republican to the 91st, 92nd, 93rd and 94th United States Congresses, holding office from January 3, 1969, to January 20, 1976, when he resigned to become the president of the Associated Industries trade group in Albany, New York.[1]

Later in 1976, Hastings was indicted for taking kickbacks from three employees while he was a legislator, and using the money to purchase vehicles, snowmobiles, and boats as well as contributing to his children's college tuition and a New York state retirement fund[2] He was convicted of mail fraud and filing false payroll information in December 1976 and served 14 months in the United States Penitentiary, Allenwood.[3]

Later life

After his release from prison, Hastings lived in retirement in Belleair Beach, Florida until returning to Allegany in 1998.

Death

He died on October 24, 2014, in Allegany, New York.[4]

See also

Sources
  • United States Congress. "James F. Hastings (id: H000327)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

References
  1. "Accent on the News," Milwaukee Journal, Jan. 8, 1976
  2. "Former NY Congressman Convicted by Jury, The Bryan Times, Dec. 18, 1976.
  3. "U.S. is Suing Legislator to Get $50,000 Returned," New York Times, Mar. 27, 1977
  4. Former Representative James F. Hastings remembered as a good public servant in the Olean Times Herald on October 28, 2014
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