Preceded by J. Henry Goguen Political party Democratic Party Succeeded by Kevin H. White Name Joseph Ward | Role Politician Succeeded by Robert A. Hall Party Democratic Party | |
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Alma mater College of the Holy Cross
Boston University School of Law Died May 10, 2003, Ocean Ridge, Florida, United States Education Boston University School of Law, College of the Holy Cross Residence Fitchburg, Massachusetts, United States, Ocean Ridge, Florida, United States | ||
Preceded by Elizabeth Ann Stanton | ||
Joseph D. Ward (March 26, 1914 – May 10, 2003) was an American politician who served as Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth from January 1959 to January 1961.
Ward was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1948, representing the 13th Worcester District. He was the Democratic nominee for Massachusetts Attorney General in 1958, but lost to George Fingold Ward was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth following the death of Edward J. Cronin. In 1960, Ward ran for Governor of Massachusetts. He defeated Endicott Peabody, Francis E. Kelly, Robert F. Murphy, John Francis Kennedy, Gabriel Piemonte, and Alfred Magaletta in the primary, but lost to John A. Volpe in the general election. He was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1962 and remained there until his retirement from politics in 1972.
Ward also spent 12 years as a professor of political law at Boston University.