Orlo Marion Brees (April 13, 1896 – November 1980) was an American newspaper editor, author, lecturer, poet, and politician from New York.
Life
Brees was born on April 13, 1896, in Canton, Fulton County, Illinois, the son of Basil V. Brees and Maria (Orline) Brees. He attended public schools in Glasford, Illinois; Shurtleff Academy in Alton, Illinois; Shurtleff College; Brown University; Columbia University; and University College in Southampton, England. He worked as a coal miner, textile worker, salesman, teacher, printer, editor, and publisher, eventually settling in Endicott, Broome County, New York.
In 1924, he married his second wife, Nina Vivian McBride of Ava, Illinois. Their daughter Vivian Ella was born on January 17, 1927. In 1933, he married Frances Willard Freeman, and their only child was Orlo Manford Brees (born 1939).
Political career
Brees was a member of the New York State Assembly (Broome County, 2nd District) from 1941 to 1952, sitting in the 163rd, 164th, 165th, 166th, 167th, and 168th New York State Legislatures. He resigned his seat after his election to the State Senate.
On February 13, 1952, Brees was elected to the New York State Senate (45th District) to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Floyd E. Anderson to the New York Supreme Court. He took his seat on February 18, 1952, and remained in the State Senate until the end of the session of the 168th New York State Legislature. In August 1952, Brees ran for re-nomination in the Republican primary but was defeated by Floyd Anderson's son, Warren M. Anderson.
Other activities
In 1927, Brees was briefly a member of the Ku Klux Klan in Rhode Island, a fact he acknowledged publicly in 1952 while running for State Senate.
Death
Brees died in November 1980 in Santa Clara, California, at the age of 84.
Notable works
- Spudville Philosophy and Phoolosophy (Endicott, NY: Endicott Printing, 1945)
