Former Pa. Governor William Scranton Dies At 96
By Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - William Scranton, the Pennsylvania governor from 1963 to 1967, has died at a retirement home in Montecito, California. A family spokesman says Governor Scranton died of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 96.
Ed Rendell was in college and law school when Bill Scranton was governor. He says Scranton was a moderate Republican and very popular candidate with voters.
"He was a very good governor, in fact so well thought of that when the moderate Republicans wanted to field a candidate to stop Barry Goldwater after Barry Goldwater won the early primaries, they asked Governor Scranton to jump, but a little too late to derail the Goldwater Express," said Rendell.
While governor, Scranton who was described as an outspoken centrist, endorsed President Kennedy's social agenda including civil rights and the Peace Corps. And the media quickly dubbed him a "Kennedy Republican." Scranton signed into law changes to the state's education system, created the state community college system, and the State Higher Education Assistance Agency.
