Donlon, Mary H. (1894–1977)

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Donlon, Mary H. (1894–1977)

American editor, lawyer and judge. Name variations: Mary Honor Donlon. Born 1894 in Utica, NY; died Mar 5, 1977, in Tucson, Arizona; dau. of Joseph M. and Mary (Coughlin) Donlon; attended Utica Free Academy; Cornell University, LLB, 1921.

Edited three issues of Cornell Law Quarterly (Nov 1919, Jan 1920, Mar 1920); admitted to NY bar (1921); began law practice as partner at Burke and Burke in NY (1928); ran unsuccessfully for congressman-at-large from New York State (1940); active in state and national Republican campaigns, became (1st woman) head of a resolutions subcommittee at Republican National Convention (1944); received lifetime appointment as US Customs Court judge (1955), becoming 1st woman from NY appointed to federal bench.