Mario Palumbo

Mario Palumbo
32nd Attorney General of West Virginia
In office January 14, 1991 – January 18, 1993
Governor	Gaston Caperton
Preceded by	Roger W. Tompkins
Succeeded by	Darrell McGraw
Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 8th district
In office December 1, 1968 – December 1, 1988
Preceded by	Paul J. Kaufman
Succeeded by	Mark Manchin
Personal details
Born	Mario Joseph Palumbo (1933-04-13)April 13, 1933 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	July 4, 2004(2004-07-04) (aged 71)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Louise Corey ​ (m. 1969)​
Children	2, including Corey
Education	Morris Harvey College West Virginia University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Unit	W.Va. Air National Guard

Mario Joseph Palumbo (April 13, 1933 – July 4, 2004) was an American attorney and Democratic politician from Kanawha County, West Virginia.

Early life and education

Palumbo was born in Manhattan to Jack and Nancy Palumbo.

He graduated cum laude from Morris Harvey College in 1954, where he was student body president and recipient of the Liston Award for excellence in scholarship, character and athleticism, which was awarded to him during the NAIA Basketball Tournament. In 1957, he graduated from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Career

In 1958, he joined the law firm of Woodroe, Kizer & Steed (now Kay, Casto & Chaney PPL).

Palumbo served as a legal officer with the West Virginia Air National Guard and retired in 1981 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

He was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1968 and served five consecutive terms, being re-elected in 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1984. During his tenure in the Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on Education from 1971 to 1972 and as chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary from 1973 to 1980.

In 1990, Palumbo was elected attorney general to complete the unexpired term of his predecessor, Charlie Brown. In 1992, he ran for governor of West Virginia, running third in the Democratic Primary, behind then-Governor Gaston Caperton and then-State Senator Charlotte Pritt.

Later life and death

Palumbo died on July 4, 2004, just one day after the death of his wife.

Family

Mario was married to his wife, Louise, with whom he had two sons, Mario (Chris) and Corey Palumbo, a former member of the West Virginia State Senate.