US Congressman. He graduated from Brown University in 1926 and the New Jersey Law School in 1931, and became an attorney in Hackensack in 1932. He served in the New Jersey Assembly from 1946 to 1950. In 1950 he was the successful Republican nominee in a special election for the US House of Representatives seat left vacant when J. Parnell Thomas resigned. Widnall was elected to 12 full terms, and served from February, 1950 until December, 1974, eventually becoming the senior Republican on the House Banking and Currency Committee. In the mid 1960s Widnall was the chief sponsor of the National Historic Preservation Act, the law which created the National Register of Historic Places. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1974 and served as Chairman of the National Commission on Electronic Fund Transfers from 1975 to 1981, afterwards living in retirement at his home in Ridgewood.
US Congressman. He graduated from Brown University in 1926 and the New Jersey Law School in 1931, and became an attorney in Hackensack in 1932. He served in the New Jersey Assembly from 1946 to 1950. In 1950 he was the successful Republican nominee in a special election for the US House of Representatives seat left vacant when J. Parnell Thomas resigned. Widnall was elected to 12 full terms, and served from February, 1950 until December, 1974, eventually becoming the senior Republican on the House Banking and Currency Committee. In the mid 1960s Widnall was the chief sponsor of the National Historic Preservation Act, the law which created the National Register of Historic Places. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1974 and served as Chairman of the National Commission on Electronic Fund Transfers from 1975 to 1981, afterwards living in retirement at his home in Ridgewood.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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