Member

Sessions

Sessions Office Position District Party
1974 Representative 198 Democrat
1975 Representative 198 Democrat
1976 Representative 198 Democrat
1977 Representative 198 Democrat
1978 Representative 198 Democrat
1979 Representative 198 Democrat
1980 Representative 198 Democrat
1981 Representative Minority Caucus Chairman 198 Democrat
1982 Representative Minority Caucus Chairman 198 Democrat
1983 Representative Majority Whip 198 Democrat
1984 Representative Majority Whip 198 Democrat
1985 Representative Majority Whip 198 Democrat
1986 Representative Majority Whip 198 Democrat
1987 Representative 198 Democrat
1988 Representative 198 Democrat
1989 Representative Majority Floor Leader, Speaker 198 Democrat
1990 Representative Majority Floor Leader, Speaker 198 Democrat
1991 Representative Speaker 198 Democrat
1992 Representative Speaker 198 Democrat
1993 Representative 198 Democrat
Counties Philadelphia

Biography

09/25/1943 -


O’DONNELL, Robert W., a Representative from Philadelphia County; born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pa., September 25, 1943; B.A., Temple University, 1966; J.D., Temple University Law School, 1969; attended LaSalle College, New York University Law School, and the Hague Academy of International Law, Netherlands; elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by Special Election, May 21, 1974 to serve the remaining 1973 term; Sworn-In, June 10, 1974 and was reelected for 10 consecutive terms thereafter; elected, Minority Caucus Chair (1981-1982); elected, Majority Whip (1983-1988); elected, Majority Leader (1989-January 23, 1990); elected, Speaker (January 23, 1990-1992); appointed, Pennsylvania MILRITE Council (1981-1982); appointed, Joint State Government Commission (1981-1992); appointed, chair, Select Committee to Investigate the Problem of Teenage Pregnancies and Parenting in Pennsylvania (1986); Pennsylvania State Chair, Clinton/Gore Presidential Campaign (1992); president, Pennsylvania Electoral College (1992); resigned from the House, December 31, 1993; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania Governor (1994); counsel, Saul Ewing, Philadelphia; counsel, Thorp, Reed and Armstrong, LLP, Pittsburgh; partner, O’Donnell Associates (1995-present); member, Public Finance Practice Group; instructor, state and local government law, Drexel University School of Law; interim debt coordinator for Linda Thompson, mayor of Harrisburg (2011).
 
 
 

Archival Collections


Papers of Robert W. O’Donnell, 1974-1993, Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives, Harrisburg.
 


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