Chester A. Dolan, Jr.

Chester A. Dolan, Jr.
Chester A. Dolan, Jr.
President of the Massachusetts Senate
In office 1949–1949
Preceded by	Harris S. Richardson
Succeeded by	Harris S. Richardson
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 5th Suffolk District
In office 1939–1950
Preceded by	James W. Hennigan, Sr.
Succeeded by	John F. Collins
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 10th Suffolk District
In office 1937–1939
Personal details
Born	September 20, 1907 Boston
Died	September 7, 1994 (aged 86) Wareham, Massachusetts
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Harvard Extension School Massachusetts Institute of Technology Suffolk University School of Law

Chester A. Dolan, Jr. was an American politician who served as President of the Massachusetts Senate in 1949.

Dolan was born on September 20, 1907 in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood. He attended Lowell Grammar School, High School of Commerce, Harvard Extension School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Suffolk University Law School. Prior to entering politics, Dolan was a semi-pro baseball player.

Dolan served one term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives before being elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1938. Dolan was named Democratic Floor Leader in 1941, but gave up that position to serve in the United States Army. Dolan resigned from the House on August 18, 1942 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was assigned to intelligence and after attending officers training school, was sworn in as a lieutenant and assigned to the Twelfth Air Force.

On November 8, Dolan and his outfit participated in the first Allied invasion of Casablanca with the 12th USAAF, along with General George S. Patton's Western Tank Force. He was part of Allied campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. In 1945, while fighting outside Bologna, Dolan was injured. He was hospitalized and sent back to the United States. He was discharged in January 1946 with the rank of Major.

Although Dolan had resigned from the House, his name was already on the primary ballot for the 1942 election and the state Ballot Law Commission ruled that it could not be removed. He won the primary in and was reelected to the Senate while still in the Army. In 1944 he was reelected while serving in the European theater. He was once again appointed Democratic Floor Leader in 1947.