Kirby, Edward M.

Edward P. Kirby (EPK) was born in Whitman, Massachusetts, on January 10, 1928. He attended the Whitman public schools and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1949 and Boston College Law School in 1952. He entered the United States Army during the Korean War (1952-1955) and served as a Lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. EPK entered local politics in the late 1950s and served as Whitman Town Counsel from 1957 to 1962. In 1960 he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 5th Plymouth District three terms between 1961 and 1966. During his first term he was the youngest Republican in the House. Kirby became a Plymouth County Commissioner in 1968 and was elected to two terms, serving from 1968 to 1976. He represented the 2nd Plymouth District in the Massachusetts Senate (1981-1989) and the Plymouth and Barnstable District (1989-1992). During the years 1983-1988 and 1991-1992, Kirby was the Third Assistant Minority Floor Leader in the Senate. Throughout his career, EPK was a strong social conservative. He supported the reinstatement of the death penalty in Massachusetts and the banning of legal abortion in the state and was opposed to most gay rights legislation. He was also a controversial figure in Massachusetts politics because of his views on homosexuality and AIDS. During his time in office as a Senator, EPK was a member of several committees. He was assigned to the Public Service, Ways and Means, Transportation, Criminal Justice, and Transportation Committees. Other committees on which he served include Election Laws, Public Safety, Energy, Justice, Judiciary, and Rules. EPK's legislative priorities were tax reform, victims' rights, environmental issues related to hazardous waste, budgetary issues, public safety, and elderly affairs. He was also concerned with local aid to finance education and introducing industry he considered desirable to his district. Throughout his years in the Senate, Kirby was involved in the successful restoration of the Old Colony Commuter Rail, which brought railroad service from Boston to his district. He also established the Special Joint Committee on the Investigation and Study of the Pilgrim Station Nuclear Generating Facility at Plymouth, MA. Kirby was deeply invested in social issues of the day including AIDS, gay rights, and abortion, and his papers reflect his activity in these areas. Outside of public office, Kirby participated in several organizations. He was a member of the American Legion as well as the Whitman Kiwanis and the Whitman Council Number 347 Knights of Columbus. In addition, he helped create the Plymouth Development Council. Kirby's wife was Mary Alice Kirby, who participated actively in EPK's political career.

From the description of [Papers], 1960-2004. (State Library of Massachusetts). WorldCat record id: 261350135