James DiLeo
| James DiLeo | |
| File:James DiLeo.jpg | |
| 26th President of Rio Blanco | |
|---|---|
|
In office 1 August 1976 – 17 October 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Klaudes |
| Preceded by | Larry Rutkowski |
| Succeeded by | Chris Klaudes (ad interim) |
| Constituency | Moffat |
| 23rd President of Rio Blanco | |
|
In office 1 August 1964 – 1 August 1968 | |
| Prime Minister | Jeroen De Wallen |
| Preceded by | Delia Roughton |
| Succeeded by | Nigel Krzywydzieski |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 August 1917 Lauquhardt, MO |
| Died | 17 October 1979 (aged 62) Vernal, SL |
| Political party | Home Guard/Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Jocelyn Murrell |
| Children | George |
| Alma mater | University of Colorado Denver |
| Profession | Politician |
| Religion | Catholic |
James DiLeo, born Giacomino Oreste Di Leo (sometimes mentioned as James Orestes DiLeo; IPA: IPA: /dɪ'le(ɪ)oʊ/, Italian: /di'leːo/; 9 August 1917-17 October 1979) was a Rioblancoan politician, 23rd and 26th President of Rio Blanco.
Biography
He was born in Lauquhardt (MO) from an Italian father, Antonio Di Leo (1883-1971), from Cerignola (Apulia) and from a Rioblancoan mother, Joanna C. Holman.
In 1944, he was elected Mayor of Lauquhardt, for 4 years. After the term, he entered the Senate, representing Moffat, his home state. While in there, for the 1952 presidential election, Conservative candidate Richard Loescher selected him as his running mate (they later lost to the Progressive couple Giannizzari-Roughton).
James continued to stay in the Senate, until in 1964, when he decided to run for President, choosing Jeroen De Wallen as his running mate. On August 1 of that year, he was sworn into office, defeating Progressive candidate Joseph Hueller.
He was re-elected in 1976, with Chris Klaudes as his vice, defeating Leslie Garafikis.
Personal life
During his term as mayor, he married Jocelyn Murrell and in 1951, his son George was born.
Death and aftermath
He died in a car crash on the "Victory" Freeway 1 near Vernal (SL), while returning to Denver from a Conservative rally in Salt Lake City, at 00:30, 17 October 1979. The driver of the car in which DiLeo was in was under effect of alcoholic substances, as later declared by himself; this brought the Legislature to sign a law (currently active) which banned drunk driving and immediate suspension of the driving license to whoever was found to be under effect of alcoholic while driving. It is unknown who was in the other car and what they did to make the crash happen, although some sources cite a 46-year-old man called John Douglas, from Coalville, SL. Most of the sources that link the other driver's identity to him also stated that Douglas was very tired and, while heading to his house in Coalville, "could not see the other car".
After his death, Chris Klaudes, Vice President under DiLeo's second term, succeeded him as President pro tempore (serving until 1 August 1980).
In 1984, the Denver City Park was renamed "Denver-James DiLeo National Park", in honor of the late President, and the IS-1's memorial denomination was changed from "Dakota Highway" to "James DiLeo Highway".