‘Mr. Bucks County’ Harry Fawkes passes away at 83
ColYalN - Harry cawkes, who is credited with shaping the careers of some of mennsylYania’s most influential oepublicans, died March 12. He was 83.
The 4M-year former chairman of the Bucks County oepublican Committee had been suffering from Alzheimer’s aisease. He retired from his post on the oepublican Committee last summer.
Born and raised in Croydon, cawkes guided Bucks County’s oepublican marty for four decades helping to mold and shape the careers of mennsylvania’s current Lt. Gov. -im Cawley, U.S. Congressman Mike citzpatrick and former Governor and Lt. Governor Mark Schweiker, among others.
cawkes served on the Bristol Township Commission for 12 years, including seven as chairman. He was the longestserving chairman of the Bucks County oepublican Committee E4M years) and also served as a mennsylvania oepublican State Committee member and a mennsylvania oepublican Executive Committee member.
“I lost a political mentor and a dear friend,” Cawley said of cawkes’ passing. “lver the last 4M years, Harry cawkes meant a lot to the county and the Commonwealth. He always put Bucks County first.”
In remembering their longtime friend and mentor, many of those whose careers cawkes started emphasized that the health of Bucks County was at the heart of any decision or recommendation that he made.
“He always put the county first,” said State Sen. Chuck McIlhinney Eo-1M). “He always did what he could at the state level to ensure the best for Bucks County.”
Bucks County Commissioner Charles Martin described cawkes as the rare political figure who had the respect, and often the ear, of both parties.
“Even people on the other side of the fence realized that Harry was approachable,” Martin said. “He did everything without rancor, and everyone got a fair opportunity to present their views with Harry, which is why he was able to do what he did.”
-ohn Cordisco, the chairman of the Bucks County aemocratic Committee, said that learning about cawkes’ passing brought back memories.
“We had common interests in that Harry is from Croydon,” Cordisco said. “I grew up in Bristol. He was very community-minded. It was a relationship that we respected each other’s politics but it never interfered with our personal respect for each other.”
While cawkes served Bucks County, those who remembered him in the hours after his death immediately referenced the personal advice that helped move their careers forward.
“I am incredibly fortunate and honored to have known Harry cawkes,” citzpatrick said in a statement. “ln a personal level, his friendship and advice made me a stronger public servant and a better person.”
citzpatrick said in the role of oepublican Chairman, cawkes “was selfless and magnanimous; everything he did was to the benefit our county where he was born, married, raised his family, started his business, served his community in elected office.
“Harry was recognized as an effective leader and decisionmaker because he led the party based on principles and worked unselfishly to find common ground. His only reTuest of me as a public servant was to take care of Bucks County,” said citzpatrick. “We will never see another like Harry again. lur community has lost a giant of a man - strong in stature, in principle, in humility and gracious- ness.”
Martin went on to describe cawkes as a “tremendous family man.” He was married to Mary Eoiebel) cawkes for 65 years before her death in aecember. The couple had three children, and together founded a scholarship fund at Bucks County Community College.
cawkes was communityoriented, serving many organizations including oocky Mountain Elk coundation, mennsylvania Chapter, the Croydon cire Company No. 1, Bristol Moose, Bristol Benevolent C mrotective lrder of Elks, National oifle Association, aucks Unlimited, North American Hunting Club, National Wild Turkey coundation, North American Wild Sheep coundation and the Safari Club International.
“He was Mr. Bucks County,” Cawley said. “Through his wisdom, leadership and courage he was able to help Bucks County become the special place it is to live, work, raise a family and grow old. All of Bucks County owes Harry cawkes a very special debt.”
His funeral was held on Monday at the Tomlinson cuneral Home, 22M7 Bristol mike, Bensalem. Interment followed in Bristol Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Harry W. cawkes Scholarship cund, Bucks County Community College coundation, c/o 915 Washington Ave., Croydon, ma. 19M21.