John P. Saylor

John Saylor
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 12th district
In office January 3, 1973 – October 28, 1973
Preceded by	Irving Whalley
Succeeded by	John Murtha
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 22nd district
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	James Van Zandt
Succeeded by	Thomas Morgan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 26th district
In office September 13, 1949 – January 3, 1953
Preceded by	Robert Coffey
Succeeded by	Thomas Morgan
Personal details
Born	July 23, 1908 Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Died	October 28, 1973 (aged 65) Houston, Texas
Resting place	Grandview Cemetery 40°18′42″N 78°55′33″W / 40.31170°N 78.92580°W
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Franklin and Marshall College Dickinson School of Law

John Phillips Saylor (July 23, 1908 – October 28, 1973) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania serving from 1949 until his death from a heart attack in Houston, Texas in 1973.

Saylor was born in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1929, and Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1933. He was elected city solicitor of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1938 and served until 1940. He enlisted in the United States Navy on August 6, 1943 and served until January 1946.

Saylor was elected as a Republican to the 81st Congress, by special election, September 13, 1949, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert L. Coffey. He was reelected to the twelve succeeding Congresses and served until his death in Houston, Texas. During his time in Congress he became dedicated to a number of environmental causes, including the Wilderness Act of 1964,^[1] the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Act, National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and in opposition to the Kinzua Dam Project.^[2] He was dubbed "St. John" by environmental advocates for his dogged work on environmental issues.

In 1970 the Izaak Walton League of America bestowed its highest honor, the Founders' Award, to Saylor "for two decades of unprecedented leadership in the Congress of the United States for sound resource management, the preservation of natural scenic and cultural values, the maintenance of a quality environment, and the unalienable right of citizens to be involved in resources and environmental decisions." ^[3]

Saylor died of a heart attack at age 65, and is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The John P. Saylor Trail in Gallitzin State Forest is named after him.^[4]

Sources

• United States Congress. "John P. Saylor (id: S000102)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• John P. Saylor at Find a Grave
• Voice of Wild and Scenic Rivers: John P. Saylor of Pennsylvania (full text here)

Notes

1. Green Republican: John Saylor and the Preservation of America's Wilderness
2. Indiana University of Pennsylvania Saylor Special Collection
3. Izaak Walton League of America Award
4. John P. Saylor Trail