Guy K. Bard

Guy K. Bard
1952 photograph
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
In office December 20, 1939 – July 16, 1952
Nominated by	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Oliver Dickinson
Succeeded by	Francis Lund Van Dusen
Attorney General of Pennsylvania
In office April 27, 1938 – January 17, 1939
Governor	George Earle
Preceded by	Charles Margiotti
Succeeded by	Claude Reno
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
In office March 1, 1937 – April 1, 1937
Preceded by	Charles McAvoy
Succeeded by	J. Cullen Ganey
Personal details
Born	October 24, 1895 Lincoln, Pennsylvania
Died	November 23, 1953 (aged 58)
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Franklin and Marshall College
Profession	Lawyer, Educator

Guy Kurtz Bard (October 24, 1895 – November 23, 1953) was a Pennsylvania educator who later became a judge of United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1939 until 1952, when he resigned to be the Pennsylvania Democratic candidate for the United States Senate.

Early life, education, and career

Bard was born the son of Silas E. and Miranda S. Kurtz. He graduated from Millersville State Normal School, and Franklin and Marshall College in 1916. He was a school teacher and principal in Lancaster County schools.

Bard served in the United States Army at the end of World War I, from 1918–19, and he then returned to school and received an LL.B. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1922. He was a lawyer in private practice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from 1922 to 1939 and served as chair of the Lancaster County Democratic Party, from 1925–34.

In 1930, Bard was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, and was a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1932 Democratic National Convention. He became the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1937, but resigned almost immediately to become a commissioner for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.^[1][2] He then served as Attorney General from 1938-39.

Federal judicial service

On December 20, 1939, Bard received a recess appointment from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Oliver Dickinson. Formally nominated on April 4, 1940, Bard was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 24, 1940, and received commission on April 29, 1940. Bard resigned from the court on July 16, 1952 to run for the U.S. Senate. Unsuccessful in that effort, Bard returned to private practice until his death the following year.

Death and legacy

Bard is interred at Fairview Cemetery, Denver, Pennsylvania.

The Guy Kurtz Bard Award is given at Millersville University to a senior political science major in even-numbered years and to a senior history major in odd-numbered years for outstanding ability in political science and history.

The Guy K Bard Educational Fund is a non-profit organization, based in Ephrata.

The Guy K Bard Democratic Club is based in Ephrata.

Bard Hall at Millersville University is named after him.^[3]

References

1. Westbrook, C. H., ed. (1940). The Pennsylvania Manual: 1939. 84. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
2. "Lehigh Men in the News". Lehigh Alumni Bulletin. 25 (1): 20. 1937.
3. "Buildings and Landmarks". Retrieved 2015-06-17.

Further reading

• Brown, Focht, ed. (1942). The Pennsylvania Manual: 1941. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. p. 980.

External links

• Guy K. Bard at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  
• Guy K. Bard at Find a Grave