Leon Kolankiewicz (April 6, 1892 – June 1971) was a Democratic politician from

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

. Kolankiewicz was born in Philadelphia in 1892, the son of Polish immigrants Lawrence and Catherine Kolankiewicz. Kolankiewicz grew up in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. He attended the Drexel Institute (now

Drexel University Drexel University is a private university, private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony Joseph Drexel, Anthony J. Drexel, a financier ...

) and the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry (now

Salus University Salus at Drexel University is a private graduate school in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. A part of Drexel University, Salus specializes in degree programs for the health care professions. History The university's founding college, the Pennsylvani ...

) en route to earning a doctorate in

optometry Optometry is the healthcare practice concerned with examining the eyes for visual defects, prescribing corrective lenses, and detecting eye abnormalities. In the United States and Canada, optometrists are those that hold a post-baccalaureate f ...

. When the United States entered

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

in 1917, Kolankiewicz joined the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

, serving in the Machine Gun Company of the 315th Infantry. He was wounded in action, for which he received the

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

. After the war, Kolankiewicz continued his work as an optometrist while becoming active in Philadelphia's Polish-American community. He was married in 1923 to Helen Lojewska, with whom he had four children. Kolankiewicz was appointed president of the Philadelphia chapter of American Relief for Poland in 1929, coordinating that group's efforts with those of international organizations helping to send money and supplies to the newly created Polish state. In 1940, Kolankiewicz entered the political arena, winning election to the state House of Representatives as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

. He won reelection in 1942 and 1944, but was defeated in 1946. In 1948, he regained his seat and held it until 1956. In that year, Kolankiewicz ran in a special election for one of seven at-large seats on the

Philadelphia City Council The Philadelphia City Council is the legislative body of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is composed of 17 councilmembers: ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large from throughou ...

, which had become vacant after the resignation of John F. Byrne Sr. He defeated Max Leon, his Republican opponent, easily. Kolankiewicz was the first Polish-American to serve on the City Council. In 1959, he won reelection to a full term on the council. He testified before a grand jury investigating graft in City Council in 1963, but was not charged. Kolankiewicz resigned as president of the Philadelphia chapter of American Relief for Poland in 1964 in order to better concentrate on his duties as a councilman. In 1967, he lost his bid for reelection to city council, and retired from public life. He died four years later, at the age of 79.

References

Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kolankiewicz, Leon 1892 births 1971 deaths American politicians of Polish descent Drexel University alumni Salus University alumni American optometrists Pennsylvania Democrats Philadelphia City Council members 20th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly