“I learned a long time ago to just agree with George,” says Newburyport City Clerk Richard Jones. “He’s always right.”
Considering that George Lawler Jr. has been mayor of the city, has served on the City Council and was once himself the city clerk—among other public service positions—it’s hard to argue with Jones.
And as far as Newburyport “townies” go, Lawler is the real deal.
“I was born here, I’ve lived here all my life, and I’m going to die here, God willing,” Lawler declares.
A few mere paragraphs cannot begin to describe Lawler’s contributions to the City of Newburyport, or to tell all of his stories. Since 1953, he has been pouring his heart and soul into his beloved city.
The highlights of his accomplishments include his mayoral prodding of the federal government to bring urban renewal to the city. After two terms in office he shifted his focus to the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority, the quasi-governmental group responsible for overseeing urban renewal and which still exists today.
The NRA worked closely with the local historic committee to ensure that Newburyport’s urban renewal was about rehabilitation rather than demolition. The original plan was to level a huge portion of the downtown district, including residential areas.
“As a result of that (collaborative) work, you’ve got downtown the way it is today,” Lawler says. “Nobody understands that.”
But he is not among those “townies” that are not fond of the new breed of residents.
“It’s a new generation; the old Newburyport has passed. We’ve got a lot of good people coming into town. Hopefully they will keep things in order.”
Lawler’s civic involvement began with a relief committee that formed after a devastating tornado struck Worcester in 1953. It continues today with his volunteer service on Newburyport’s water commission.
Along the way he has been very active with the city’s Democratic Committee, working with governors from both sides of the aisle, and forging friendships; he is still involved with Opportunity Works, a community advocacy agency serving people with disabilities, and with the Council on Aging.
One of Lawler’s political rivals was Andrew J. “Bossy” Gillis, the notorious former mayor who ran the city from his downtown gas station during his intermittent stints in public office, beginning in 1928.
“I ran against him—and beat him both times,” Lawler says with a grin.
The last time Gillis ran for mayor, in 1965, he had been “giving the Coast Guard the gun and ramming Yankee Homecoming (the annual celebration of the city).”
Gillis suffered a fatal heart attack out on Plum Island two days after the election and the Coast Guard was dispatched to bring him into town. Some people said that Gillis did not deserve the same funeral as another former mayor who had died earlier that year.
The new mayor said it was up to the Gillis family. They wanted the fanfare accorded to other mayors, so that’s what old Bossy got.
Lawler, however, got the last laugh on his former political foe: some three years later he signed the permit allowing Gillis’ gas station to be torn down.
The “local yokel” and the senator
Among the “tidbits and stories” that Lawler says “go along with kicking around a city for 50 or 60 years” are ones involving Senator Edward Kennedy.
In 1962, when Kennedy made his first run for the United States Senate, his campaign official in Newburyport asked Lawler to vote for Kennedy at the state’s Democratic convention.
“Geez,” Lawler replied, “I’m friends with Eddie McCormack (Kennedy’s opponent).” Lawler jokingly added that if his mother told him to vote for Kennedy, he’d do it.
Soon enough, his mother’s phone rang, and at the other end of the line was Ted Kennedy. He politely asked Mrs. Lawler to persuade her son to vote for him at the convention.
“I had to vote for him,” Lawler says with a chuckle. “I had no choice…. I got a few people mad, but I couldn’t help it!”
Lawler's school desk still bears his name. Photo by Kate Harper.
Two years later Lawler was at the Democratic State Convention in West Springfield when the airplane carrying Kennedy crashed on its way to the event.
“I took on the responsibility of running his Newburyport-area campaign that year,” Lawler notes.
Two years more, and he and his father were at a Democratic gathering in Lawrence. Kennedy took the stage.
“He looked out and saw me. At 6 feet 4 inches, I was hard to miss.”
Kennedy called out, “Hey George! Did you get the message I sent you? I sent you a telegram!”
The senator had indeed sent Lawler a telegram, from Shanghai, congratulating him on his election as mayor of Newburyport. Lawler says his father never got over that.
George Lawler started out in city politics in 1953, when he was elected to the Newburyport City Council. He served six terms as councilor and two terms as mayor. In 1971, as he says he was winding down, he became city clerk. He retired from paid public office in 1987.
It’s been a long run, and he has enjoyed every minute.
Remembrances – For the Love of Newburyport
Considering that George Lawler Jr. has been mayor of the city, has served on the City Council and was once himself the city clerk—among other public service positions—it’s hard to argue with Jones.
And as far as Newburyport “townies” go, Lawler is the real deal.
“I was born here, I’ve lived here all my life, and I’m going to die here, God willing,” Lawler declares.
A few mere paragraphs cannot begin to describe Lawler’s contributions to the City of Newburyport, or to tell all of his stories. Since 1953, he has been pouring his heart and soul into his beloved city.
The highlights of his accomplishments include his mayoral prodding of the federal government to bring urban renewal to the city. After two terms in office he shifted his focus to the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority, the quasi-governmental group responsible for overseeing urban renewal and which still exists today.
The NRA worked closely with the local historic committee to ensure that Newburyport’s urban renewal was about rehabilitation rather than demolition. The original plan was to level a huge portion of the downtown district, including residential areas.
“As a result of that (collaborative) work, you’ve got downtown the way it is today,” Lawler says. “Nobody understands that.”
But he is not among those “townies” that are not fond of the new breed of residents.
“It’s a new generation; the old Newburyport has passed. We’ve got a lot of good people coming into town. Hopefully they will keep things in order.”
Lawler’s civic involvement began with a relief committee that formed after a devastating tornado struck Worcester in 1953. It continues today with his volunteer service on Newburyport’s water commission.
Along the way he has been very active with the city’s Democratic Committee, working with governors from both sides of the aisle, and forging friendships; he is still involved with Opportunity Works, a community advocacy agency serving people with disabilities, and with the Council on Aging.
One of Lawler’s political rivals was Andrew J. “Bossy” Gillis, the notorious former mayor who ran the city from his downtown gas station during his intermittent stints in public office, beginning in 1928.
“I ran against him—and beat him both times,” Lawler says with a grin.
The last time Gillis ran for mayor, in 1965, he had been “giving the Coast Guard the gun and ramming Yankee Homecoming (the annual celebration of the city).”
Gillis suffered a fatal heart attack out on Plum Island two days after the election and the Coast Guard was dispatched to bring him into town. Some people said that Gillis did not deserve the same funeral as another former mayor who had died earlier that year.
The new mayor said it was up to the Gillis family. They wanted the fanfare accorded to other mayors, so that’s what old Bossy got.
Lawler, however, got the last laugh on his former political foe: some three years later he signed the permit allowing Gillis’ gas station to be torn down.
The “local yokel” and the senator
Among the “tidbits and stories” that Lawler says “go along with kicking around a city for 50 or 60 years” are ones involving Senator Edward Kennedy.
In 1962, when Kennedy made his first run for the United States Senate, his campaign official in Newburyport asked Lawler to vote for Kennedy at the state’s Democratic convention.
“Geez,” Lawler replied, “I’m friends with Eddie McCormack (Kennedy’s opponent).” Lawler jokingly added that if his mother told him to vote for Kennedy, he’d do it.
Soon enough, his mother’s phone rang, and at the other end of the line was Ted Kennedy. He politely asked Mrs. Lawler to persuade her son to vote for him at the convention.
“I had to vote for him,” Lawler says with a chuckle. “I had no choice…. I got a few people mad, but I couldn’t help it!”
Lawler's school desk still bears his name. Photo by Kate Harper.
Two years later Lawler was at the Democratic State Convention in West Springfield when the airplane carrying Kennedy crashed on its way to the event.
“I took on the responsibility of running his Newburyport-area campaign that year,” Lawler notes.
Two years more, and he and his father were at a Democratic gathering in Lawrence. Kennedy took the stage.
“He looked out and saw me. At 6 feet 4 inches, I was hard to miss.”
Kennedy called out, “Hey George! Did you get the message I sent you? I sent you a telegram!”
The senator had indeed sent Lawler a telegram, from Shanghai, congratulating him on his election as mayor of Newburyport. Lawler says his father never got over that.
George Lawler started out in city politics in 1953, when he was elected to the Newburyport City Council. He served six terms as councilor and two terms as mayor. In 1971, as he says he was winding down, he became city clerk. He retired from paid public office in 1987.
It’s been a long run, and he has enjoyed every minute.