Biography
Born in Westpoint, Indiana, Durgan attended the village school there. He moved to Lafayette, Indiana, in 1892 and was employed as a clerk and later as a traveling salesman. He engaged in mercantile pursuits. He served as mayor of Lafayette in 1904–1913 and 1917–1925 and he served as delegate to the 1912 Democratic National Convention, Democratic National Convention in 1912.Congress
Durgan was elected as a Democratic Party (United States), Democrat to the 73rd United States Congress, 73rd Congress (March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935). He was an unsuccessful candidate for United States House of Representatives elections, 1934, reelection in 1934 to the 74th United States Congress, 74th Congress.Later career and death
He resumed mercantile pursuits. He was appointed to the Indiana Public Service Commission (Indiana), Public Service Commission in 1941 and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. He died in Indianapolis on January 13, 1942, and was interred in Springvale Cemetery in Lafayette. The former Durgan elementary school in the Lafayette School Corporation was named in his honor.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Durgan, George Richard 1872 births 1942 deaths Mayors of Lafayette, Indiana Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana