James "Jim" Francis McNulty, Jr.

Biographical Information

James Francis McNulty, Jr. was born on October 18, 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of James Francis and Florence (Cull) McNulty, Sr.   He attended Boston public schools and graduated from Boston Latin School in 1943.  "He was drafted into the Army in 1944 and served as a drill sergeant during World War II, training infantry soldiers at Fort McClellan, Ala."  (Younger, Jamar.  "Jim McNulty, congressman who made his home in political arena, dies at 83."  Arizona Daily Star, July 1, 2009)   After the War, he decided to head West to attend Law School because he had asthma. ("James F. McNulty, Jr."  Arizona Daily Star, July 2, 2009, p. A 13)  He earned his LL.B. from the University of Arizona in 1951.   He was hired by "Gentry and Gentry, a Bisbee law firm founded in 1903 (then, Sutter, Roche, and Gentry), the oldest law firm in Arizona. McNulty raised his family in Bisbee and practiced law at the firm (then, Gentry, McNulty , and Kimble) for over 30 years." ("James F. McNulty, Jr."  Arizona Daily Star, July 2, 2009, p. A 13)

In the November 5, 1968 General Election, James F. McNulty, Jr. was elected to the Arizona State Senate from District 2 (Cochise, Graham and Santa Cruz Counties).   In the November 3, 1970 General Election, he was re-elected to the Arizona State Senate from District 9 (Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz Counties).  He served until the 30th Arizona State Legislature, 2nd Regular Session ended in 1972.

However, when Sen. Charles A. Awalt died on June 26, 1973, James F. McNulty, Jr. was appointed to replace him on July 5, 1973 as Senator for District 8 (Cochise, Graham and Greenlee Counties).  He took the oath of office July 13, 1973 and was seated October 22, 1973 (Journal of the Senate, 31st Legislature, 1st Special Session, 1973, pp. 11-12).  He served through 1974.

In the November 2, 1982 General Election, James F. McNulty, Jr. was elected to the U.S.  House of Representatives from Arizona's newly created 5th Congressional District.  The following is his biography from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress:

McNULTY, James Francis, Jr., a Representative from Arizona; born in Boston, Suffolk County, Mass., October 18, 1925; attended Boston public schools; graduated, Boston Latin School, 1943; LL.B., University of Arizona, Tuscon, 1951; served, United States Army, 1944-1945; admitted to the Arizona bar, 1951 and commenced practice in Bisbee; city attorney: Bisbee, Tombstone, and Huachuca City, Ariz.; elected, Arizona senate, 1969-1975; delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1960; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth Congress (January 3, 1983-January 3, 1985); unsuccessful candidate for election to the Ninety-ninth Congress; died on June 30, 2009, in Tucson, Ariz.

Bibliography
McNulty, James F. Running Uphill:  Recollections of a Congressman From Arizona.  Edited by Alex Witzeman.  Tucson, AZ:  Whitewing Press, 2003.

McNulty lost the seat to Jim Kolbe in the November 1984 General Election.  However, "it was," McNulty wrote in his autobiography, "Running Uphill," "the most exciting job I ever had.  I loved it." (Jamar Younger.  "Jim McNulty, congressman who made his home in political arena, dies at 83."  Arizona Daily Star, July 1, 2009, p. A1) 

The Hon. James Francis McNulty, Jr. died in Tucson, Arizona on June 30, 2009.

Military Experience

U.S. Army 1944-1945, World War II veteran:  "He was drafted into the Army in 1944 and served as a drill sergeant during World War II, training infantry soldiers at Fort McClellan, Ala."  (Jamar Younger.  "Jim McNulty, congressman who made his home in political arena, dies at 83."  Arizona Daily Star, July 1, 2009, p. A1)

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet and Biographical Directory of the United States Congress; Death: obituary:  Jamar Younger.  "Jim McNulty, congressman who made his home in political arena, dies at 83."  Arizona Daily Star, July 1, 2009, p. A1; Middle Name:  Biographical Directory of the United States Congress