Wadie P. Deddeh

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Wadie P. Deddeh (September 6, 1920 – August 27, 2019) was an American politician of Assyrian descent in the state of California. He served in the California State Assembly from 1967 to 1982, and in the California State Senate from 1982 to 1993.[1] He is the first Iraqi-American elected official in the United States.[2][3] Deddeh wrote the 1972 legislation that created the modern California Department of Transportation, handling the highway functions previously managed by a division of the California Department of Public Works.[4] He died at the age of 98 on August 27, 2019.[5]

Wadie P. Deddeh
Member of the California Senate
from the 40th district
In office
December 6, 1982 – August 17, 1993
Preceded byJames R. Mills
Succeeded byStephen Peace
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 80th district
In office
December 2, 1974 – November 30, 1982
Preceded byJohn Stull
Succeeded byStephen Peace
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 77th district
In office
January 2, 1967 – November 30, 1974
Preceded byRichard J. Donovan
Succeeded byBob Wilson
Personal details
Born(1920-09-06)September 6, 1920
Baghdad, Iraq
DiedAugust 27, 2019(2019-08-27) (aged 98)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary-Lynn Drake
Children1
Alma materUniversity of Baghdad
University of Detroit
OccupationPolitical Science Professor

References

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  1. ^ "Inventory of the Wadie P. Deddeh Papers". www.oac.cdlib.org.
  2. ^ "Social Networks and Archival Context". snaccooperative.org.
  3. ^ "JoinCalifornia - Wadie P. Deddeh". www.joincalifornia.com.
  4. ^ "The San Diego Union-Tribune - San Diego, California & National News".
  5. ^ "Senator Deddeh Obituary - California - Tributes.com". www.tributes.com.