Edward G. Breen

Edward Grimes Breen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1949 – October 1, 1951
Preceded by	Raymond H. Burke
Succeeded by	Paul F. Schenck
Personal details
Born	(1908-06-10)June 10, 1908 Dayton, Ohio
Died	May 8, 1991(1991-05-08) (aged 82) Dayton, Ohio
Resting place	Calvary Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Constance Focke
Children	two
Alma mater	University of Dayton Ohio State University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Air Forces
Battles/wars	World War II

Edward Grimes Breen (June 10, 1908, in Dayton, Ohio – May 8, 1991, in Dayton, Ohio) was an American politician of the Democratic party.

Biography[]

Ed Breen was born in the Phillips House, a fine old hotel in Dayton, Ohio. He was the son of John P. Breen, manager of the Phillips House.

Breen attended Corpus Christi Grammar School and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton. After attending Ohio State University, Breen returned to Dayton to work in the hotel business, where he ran the Hilton Biltmore Hotel and later the Van Cleve Hotel.

During the Second World War, Breen, a Roman Catholic by faith, served as a Major (United States) in the United States Army Air Forces. He saw active duty in North Africa and in Italy. He was released from active duty and awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Infantry Reserve.

In 1945, Breen was elected to the Board of Commissioners of Dayton, Ohio. His fellow commissioners elected him mayor.

In 1948, Breen resigned his seat on the city commission in order to seek the Democratic nomination for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. In that election, Breen successfully unseated Republican incumbent Raymond H. Burke. In 1950, Breen won re-election to the House, defeating Republican challenger Paul F. Schenck. However, ill health prompted Breen to resign from his seat early, on October 1, 1951. His old opponent Schenck was elected in a special election in 1951 to complete his term.

Returning to Dayton, Breen worked in the real estate and insurance industries. A few years later, he re-entered politics, running successfully for a seat on the Board of Commissioners of Montgomery County, Ohio, serving in that capacity from 1955 to 1960.

In 1956 he married Constance Focke and they had two children. Edward Grimes Breen is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Dayton. His son has written a book about his father called "Lucky Eddie". http://www.thelocalhistorycompany.com/books/9780977042982/pages/9780977042982.html

See also[]

• Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 3rd District

References[]

• United States Congress. "Edward G. Breen (id: B000792)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-03-19
• Flynn, Adrianne. “Ex-Mayor Edward Breen, 82, Dies; Served As U.S. Rep, County Commission President.” Dayton Daily News, May 9, 1991, page 3A.

External links[]

• Congressman Edward G. Breen Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University