Milton Shapp

Milton Jerrold Shapp (June 25, 1912 - November 24, 1994) was the Democratic governor of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979 and was the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania. Shapp was born Milton Jerrold Shapiro in Cleveland, Ohio to Aaron Shapiro, a Jewish businessman and staunch Republican and Eva Smelsey Shapiro, a Democrat and outspoken suffragette. He attended Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University) g... more

Milton Jerrold Shapp (June 25, 1912 - November 24, 1994) was the Democratic governor of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979 and was the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania. Shapp was born Milton Jerrold Shapiro in Cleveland, Ohio to Aaron Shapiro, a Jewish businessman and staunch Republican and Eva Smelsey Shapiro, a Democrat and outspoken suffragette. He attended Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University) graduating in 1933 with a degree in electrical engineering. The effects of the Great Depression ravaged America and Shapp was unable to find work in the engineering field. Instead he worked as a coal truck driver. In 1936, he took a job selling electronic parts and moved to Pennsylvania. It was during this time that he changed his name from Shapiro to Shapp to avoid antisemitic prejudice though he continued to openly identify as a Jew. During World War II, Shapp served as an officer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in North Africa and Europe.... less