James Delaney (mayor)

James Delaney
Delaney in 1924
7th Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska
In office 1929–1932
Preceded by	Grant Reed
Succeeded by	Oscar S. Gill
Personal details
Born	(1896-08-26)August 26, 1896 Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland
Died	April 20, 1970(1970-04-20) (aged 73)
Resting place	Anchorage Memorial Park, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
Spouse	Nancy Marie Dillon ​ (m. 1929)​
Children	3
Profession	Politician

James Delaney (August 26, 1896 – April 20, 1970) was an American politician who served as the seventh mayor of Anchorage, Alaska from 1929 to 1932.

Biography

James J. Delaney, Sr. was born in Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland on August 26, 1896. He came to Anchorage, Alaska in 1916 to work on the railroad for the Alaskan Engineering Commission (known after its 1923 completion as the Alaska Railroad). In 1929, he married Nancy Marie Dillon (born March 5, 1896, in Aghamore, County Mayo, Ireland). The Delaneys had three children: Nancy, James, Jr., and Loretta.

In 1929, Delaney was elected to the first of three consecutive terms as Mayor. His first year in office, he successfully petitioned the United States General Land Office for the title to the land that would become Merrill Field. The field abutting downtown which was serving as an airstrip at that time was later renamed the Delaney Park Strip.

Delaney died April 20, 1970, and was buried in Anchorage Memorial Park; Nancy would survive him by 16 years, dying in Anchorage on December 29, 1986.

References

• James Delaney at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery