Dean Mallory Stephens
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| Dean Mallory Stephens | |
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Assemblyman, Putnam County (1925-1952)
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| In office 1925 – 1952 |
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| Succeeded by | Willis Stephens Sr. |
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| Born | December 17, 1893 Patterson, New York |
| Died | January 11, 1961 New York City, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Grace Hine |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
D. Mallory Stephens (December 17, 1893 - January 11, 1961) was a local and state politician and member of the New York State Assembly from Patterson, New York.
[edit] Political career and background
He was born a the family farm that is now part of the Thunder Ridge Ski Area on New York State Route 22. He was the son of Henry B. Stephens, a two-term Sheriff of Putnam County, New York, and Alice Mallory Stephens. He attended school in Patterson, and graduated from Brewster High School. Stephens worked for the Harlem Valley Electric Company after high school, and worked with crews that brought the first electric service to Patterson and Pawling. In [1914, he was married to Grace Hine of married the former Grace Hine of Brewster, and had three children. During World War I, he served in the United States Navy. In 1927, the couple relocated to Brewster.
In 1923, he was elected Town supervisor of his native Patterson, and in 1925 was elected as the New York State Assemblyman for Putnam County as a Republican, and served until 1952, when succeeded by his son. Stephens served as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for nine years, and at times served on the Rules Committee, the New York City Committee, the Public Service Committee, Joint Legislative Committee on Banking, the Committee on Military Affairs, and the legislative group formed to investigate the dairy industry. He was also chairman of the Putnam County Republican Committee for several years, which gave him influence over candidates for local office.
Stephens was a shrewd businessman whose interests included the 525 acre Stephens homestead farm, which he sold in 1956 to the business group that created the Birch Hill Game Farm there. The historic Little Red Schoolhouse in Patterson was also located on the Stephens farm, where his wife taught and his daughter Alice attended. He was also an officer of the Maust, Coal, and Coke Corporation, an officer of the Modern Industrial Bank alongside Channing H. Tobias, and the Knickerbocker Associates, a real estate and insurance firm. Stephens was a member of the Patterson Presbyterian Church, the Patterson Grange, the Putnam Westchester Pomona Grange, and the National Grange.
Stephens died in New York Hospital on January 11, 1961, at the age of 67 from a heart ailment. He was buried in the Maple Avenue Cemetery in Patterson. His son, Willis, and grandson, Willis Jr., occupied his assembly seat from 1952 until 2006. By H.R. 5685 of the United States Congress, the United States Postal Service office located at 19 Front Street in Patterson is known as the the D. Mallory Stephens Post Office.
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| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Stephens, Dean Mallory |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Stephens, D. Mallory |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1893 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Patterson, New York |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1961 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | New York City, New York |
