Biography

08/07/1942 - 04/28/2022

JAMES, Harold, a Representative from Philadelphia County; born on August 7, 1942; graduated, West Philadelphia High School; certificate, police science (1975), A.A., criminal justice (1976) and B.A., sociology (1978), Temple University; attended, Philadelphia School of Law (1981-1982); served, United States Army (1961-1964); Philadelphia Police Officer (1965-1987); co-chair, Criminal Justice Task Force, Philadelphia Urban Coalition (1981-present); radio co-host, “The Justice Hour,” (1983- present); campaign coordinator, sheriff of Philadelphia County (1987); elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1988 and served 9 more consecutive terms; appointed, Select Committee to Investigate the Use of Automatic and Semiautomatic Firearms (1994); appointed, Select Committee Investigating the Integration of Human Rights Standards in Pennsylvania Laws and Policies (2002, 2004); appointed, Select Committee on Information Security (2006); unsuccessful campaign for reelection to the House (2008); reelected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a Special Election on April 24, 2012; Sworn-In, May 8, 2012 to serve the remaining 2011 term; unsuccessful campaign for reelection to the House (2012); died, April 28, 2022 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interred, Greenmount Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.