Husband of Ruth E. nee Schaeffer. Son of Wilson F. and Jane E. (Heist) Messinger.
U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. Served from April 13, 1945 to June 3, 1946.
The Morning Call (Allentown, PA), May 15, 1991, Page: B12:
"Former State Sen. Henry C. Messinger, 75, of 1001 S. 6th St., Allentown, who served three terms in Harrisburg from 1970-82, died Monday in his home.
Often described as honest and straightforward with a subtle yet wicked wit, Messinger served as Senate majority leader, majority whip and Democratic policy chairman during his tenure.
He was particularly proud of reforms he was able to push through in the 16 months he was majority leader, including the opening of Senate financial records and the elimination of senatorial scholarships, which he thought were "all too often used for purely political purposes."
Messinger's majority leadership also included removal of so-called ghost employees, enactment of an ethics statute, campaign financing reform and a "tough" anti-crime package.
Messinger, who represented the 16th District of Lehigh County, came to office after an upset victory over Republican Majority Whip John T. Van Sant of Allentown.
Messinger, a 1936 graduate of Kutztown State College, began his professional career as a science teacher at Malvern Borough and Spring City high schools, both in Chester County.
In 1943, he came to the Lehigh Valley as a science teacher at Allen High School, a job from which he took a two-year leave of absence to serve in the Marines during World War II.
He continued his education at Cornell University, receiving a master of science degree in 1952.
Messinger was president of the Allentown Education Association, 1957-60, and was named head of the science department and science supervisor for the Allentown School District in 1960.
Two years later, he was elected a vice president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the eastern region PSEA, and in 1964, he was elected president.
He ran successfully for the senatorial seat in the 16th Congressional District in 1970 on a platform that included opposition to both proposed corridors of I-78 and the Senate patronage system of awarding state scholarships, and support of a pro-tax reform based on ability to pay and the restructuring of a mass transit system.
He was elected Senate caucus secretary in 1972 and a year later was named majority whip.
In 1977, he was elected Senate majority leader, but lost the position a year later.
He announced that he would not seek a fourth term in December 1981. At the time of his announcement, he said: "I've had a wonderful experience in the Senate. I've done what I felt was good for Pennsylvania."
Messinger was the husband of Ruth E. (Schaeffer) Messinger. They were married 52 years in November.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Wilson F. and Jane E. (Heist) Messinger.
He was a member, former council member and Sunday School teacher at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Allentown.
He was currently president of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches and a past secretary of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.
Survivors: Wife; son Allan of Allentown; daughter Tish, wife of John Steward of Tuckerton, N.J.; brothers, George and James, both of Allentown; sister Doris, wife of George Abbot of Breinigsville; foster daughter, Patricia Hunsicker of Allentown; four grandchildren, five foster grandchildren and six foster great-grandchildren.
Services: 11 a.m. Friday in the church. Call 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sell Funeral Home, 1145 Lehigh St., Allentown."
U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. Served from April 13, 1945 to June 3, 1946.
The Morning Call (Allentown, PA), May 15, 1991, Page: B12:
"Former State Sen. Henry C. Messinger, 75, of 1001 S. 6th St., Allentown, who served three terms in Harrisburg from 1970-82, died Monday in his home.
Often described as honest and straightforward with a subtle yet wicked wit, Messinger served as Senate majority leader, majority whip and Democratic policy chairman during his tenure.
He was particularly proud of reforms he was able to push through in the 16 months he was majority leader, including the opening of Senate financial records and the elimination of senatorial scholarships, which he thought were "all too often used for purely political purposes."
Messinger's majority leadership also included removal of so-called ghost employees, enactment of an ethics statute, campaign financing reform and a "tough" anti-crime package.
Messinger, who represented the 16th District of Lehigh County, came to office after an upset victory over Republican Majority Whip John T. Van Sant of Allentown.
Messinger, a 1936 graduate of Kutztown State College, began his professional career as a science teacher at Malvern Borough and Spring City high schools, both in Chester County.
In 1943, he came to the Lehigh Valley as a science teacher at Allen High School, a job from which he took a two-year leave of absence to serve in the Marines during World War II.
He continued his education at Cornell University, receiving a master of science degree in 1952.
Messinger was president of the Allentown Education Association, 1957-60, and was named head of the science department and science supervisor for the Allentown School District in 1960.
Two years later, he was elected a vice president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the eastern region PSEA, and in 1964, he was elected president.
He ran successfully for the senatorial seat in the 16th Congressional District in 1970 on a platform that included opposition to both proposed corridors of I-78 and the Senate patronage system of awarding state scholarships, and support of a pro-tax reform based on ability to pay and the restructuring of a mass transit system.
He was elected Senate caucus secretary in 1972 and a year later was named majority whip.
In 1977, he was elected Senate majority leader, but lost the position a year later.
He announced that he would not seek a fourth term in December 1981. At the time of his announcement, he said: "I've had a wonderful experience in the Senate. I've done what I felt was good for Pennsylvania."
Messinger was the husband of Ruth E. (Schaeffer) Messinger. They were married 52 years in November.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Wilson F. and Jane E. (Heist) Messinger.
He was a member, former council member and Sunday School teacher at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Allentown.
He was currently president of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches and a past secretary of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.
Survivors: Wife; son Allan of Allentown; daughter Tish, wife of John Steward of Tuckerton, N.J.; brothers, George and James, both of Allentown; sister Doris, wife of George Abbot of Breinigsville; foster daughter, Patricia Hunsicker of Allentown; four grandchildren, five foster grandchildren and six foster great-grandchildren.
Services: 11 a.m. Friday in the church. Call 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sell Funeral Home, 1145 Lehigh St., Allentown."
Husband of Ruth E. nee Schaeffer. Son of Wilson F. and Jane E. (Heist) Messinger.
U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. Served from April 13, 1945 to June 3, 1946.
The Morning Call (Allentown, PA), May 15, 1991, Page: B12:
"Former State Sen. Henry C. Messinger, 75, of 1001 S. 6th St., Allentown, who served three terms in Harrisburg from 1970-82, died Monday in his home.
Often described as honest and straightforward with a subtle yet wicked wit, Messinger served as Senate majority leader, majority whip and Democratic policy chairman during his tenure.
He was particularly proud of reforms he was able to push through in the 16 months he was majority leader, including the opening of Senate financial records and the elimination of senatorial scholarships, which he thought were "all too often used for purely political purposes."
Messinger's majority leadership also included removal of so-called ghost employees, enactment of an ethics statute, campaign financing reform and a "tough" anti-crime package.
Messinger, who represented the 16th District of Lehigh County, came to office after an upset victory over Republican Majority Whip John T. Van Sant of Allentown.
Messinger, a 1936 graduate of Kutztown State College, began his professional career as a science teacher at Malvern Borough and Spring City high schools, both in Chester County.
In 1943, he came to the Lehigh Valley as a science teacher at Allen High School, a job from which he took a two-year leave of absence to serve in the Marines during World War II.
He continued his education at Cornell University, receiving a master of science degree in 1952.
Messinger was president of the Allentown Education Association, 1957-60, and was named head of the science department and science supervisor for the Allentown School District in 1960.
Two years later, he was elected a vice president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the eastern region PSEA, and in 1964, he was elected president.
He ran successfully for the senatorial seat in the 16th Congressional District in 1970 on a platform that included opposition to both proposed corridors of I-78 and the Senate patronage system of awarding state scholarships, and support of a pro-tax reform based on ability to pay and the restructuring of a mass transit system.
He was elected Senate caucus secretary in 1972 and a year later was named majority whip.
In 1977, he was elected Senate majority leader, but lost the position a year later.
He announced that he would not seek a fourth term in December 1981. At the time of his announcement, he said: "I've had a wonderful experience in the Senate. I've done what I felt was good for Pennsylvania."
Messinger was the husband of Ruth E. (Schaeffer) Messinger. They were married 52 years in November.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Wilson F. and Jane E. (Heist) Messinger.
He was a member, former council member and Sunday School teacher at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Allentown.
He was currently president of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches and a past secretary of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.
Survivors: Wife; son Allan of Allentown; daughter Tish, wife of John Steward of Tuckerton, N.J.; brothers, George and James, both of Allentown; sister Doris, wife of George Abbot of Breinigsville; foster daughter, Patricia Hunsicker of Allentown; four grandchildren, five foster grandchildren and six foster great-grandchildren.
Services: 11 a.m. Friday in the church. Call 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sell Funeral Home, 1145 Lehigh St., Allentown."
U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. Served from April 13, 1945 to June 3, 1946.
The Morning Call (Allentown, PA), May 15, 1991, Page: B12:
"Former State Sen. Henry C. Messinger, 75, of 1001 S. 6th St., Allentown, who served three terms in Harrisburg from 1970-82, died Monday in his home.
Often described as honest and straightforward with a subtle yet wicked wit, Messinger served as Senate majority leader, majority whip and Democratic policy chairman during his tenure.
He was particularly proud of reforms he was able to push through in the 16 months he was majority leader, including the opening of Senate financial records and the elimination of senatorial scholarships, which he thought were "all too often used for purely political purposes."
Messinger's majority leadership also included removal of so-called ghost employees, enactment of an ethics statute, campaign financing reform and a "tough" anti-crime package.
Messinger, who represented the 16th District of Lehigh County, came to office after an upset victory over Republican Majority Whip John T. Van Sant of Allentown.
Messinger, a 1936 graduate of Kutztown State College, began his professional career as a science teacher at Malvern Borough and Spring City high schools, both in Chester County.
In 1943, he came to the Lehigh Valley as a science teacher at Allen High School, a job from which he took a two-year leave of absence to serve in the Marines during World War II.
He continued his education at Cornell University, receiving a master of science degree in 1952.
Messinger was president of the Allentown Education Association, 1957-60, and was named head of the science department and science supervisor for the Allentown School District in 1960.
Two years later, he was elected a vice president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the eastern region PSEA, and in 1964, he was elected president.
He ran successfully for the senatorial seat in the 16th Congressional District in 1970 on a platform that included opposition to both proposed corridors of I-78 and the Senate patronage system of awarding state scholarships, and support of a pro-tax reform based on ability to pay and the restructuring of a mass transit system.
He was elected Senate caucus secretary in 1972 and a year later was named majority whip.
In 1977, he was elected Senate majority leader, but lost the position a year later.
He announced that he would not seek a fourth term in December 1981. At the time of his announcement, he said: "I've had a wonderful experience in the Senate. I've done what I felt was good for Pennsylvania."
Messinger was the husband of Ruth E. (Schaeffer) Messinger. They were married 52 years in November.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Wilson F. and Jane E. (Heist) Messinger.
He was a member, former council member and Sunday School teacher at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Allentown.
He was currently president of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches and a past secretary of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.
Survivors: Wife; son Allan of Allentown; daughter Tish, wife of John Steward of Tuckerton, N.J.; brothers, George and James, both of Allentown; sister Doris, wife of George Abbot of Breinigsville; foster daughter, Patricia Hunsicker of Allentown; four grandchildren, five foster grandchildren and six foster great-grandchildren.
Services: 11 a.m. Friday in the church. Call 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sell Funeral Home, 1145 Lehigh St., Allentown."
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