State Rep. Lawrence Curry has represented the 154th Legislative District since first being elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1992. Before his election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Curry served as a Jenkintown Borough councilman and two terms as a Montgomery County commissioner.

Curry grew up in Jenkintown, and after graduating from Jenkintown High School, he earned his bachelor of arts and his master of arts degrees in history from the University of Pennsylvania.

As associate professor of American civilization at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Curry developed the curriculum to teach college students and adults about the Holocaust, and he periodically lectures on the subject. He also developed courses on various aspects of United States history, government and politics, and the value of civic participation -- a topic he can speak about through his own experience.

In 1965, during the most turbulent time of the civil rights movement, Curry responded to Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s appeal to join him in the stand for equality and justice in Selma, Alabama. This was a time when the call for civil rights was often met with violence, but Curry went to Selma to march for what he believed was right.

As a state legislator, Curry continues being on the forefront of issues that affect working families, senior citizens and children, especially tax reform, equal opportunity, environmental protection, health and education.

In 2006, Curry led a vigorous fight against the so-called "Academic Freedom" bill (H.R. 177) that he felt was an attempt by far-right activists to target college professors who held political viewpoints different from their own.

A staunch supporter of education and local schools, Curry became personally involved in a Glenside Elementary fourth-grade class project to have the Eastern Box Turtle named the official state reptile. Curry introduced a bill and hosted the students on the House floor when the bill was passed by the House in May 2009 after a heated debate.

He has introduced legislation that would ensure new parents are given information on risk factors associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Death of Infants (SUDI), and set standards of care for hemophilia patients in Pennsylvania. Curry was named the National Hemophilia Foundation's 2009 Advocate of the Year in October 2009 for his tireless work on that issue.

Curry also has introduced legislation that would prohibit the manufacture or sale in Pennsylvania of baby bottles or other child-care items or toys that contain bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like chemical that many scientists, health care professionals and environmentalists believe may play a key role in a range of disorders including autism, prostate cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, early puberty, obesity and learning and behavioral problems.

Curry has held leadership roles with numerous civic and community organizations, including:

• Vice president, Southeast Pennsylvania Health Systems Agency;
• Chairman, Montgomery County Advisory Council, Health Systems Agency;
• State Health Coordinating Council;
• Delaware Valley Citizens Council on Clean Air;
• Director, Jenkintown Youth Services;
• Kosher Meals on Wheels Board of Directors.

He has served as an adjunct professor at Acadia University (Beaver College/University), Montgomery County Community College and Rutgers-Camden University, and has been a guest lecturer at Philadelphia Community College and Camden Community College. Curry is also past editor of the Valley Forge Journal (the publication of the Valley Forge Historical Society) and the Bulletin of the Montgomery County Historical Society.

Curry currently resides in Jenkintown with his wife, Shirley. The couple has three children: Jennifer Coleman, Jeffery Curry and Jacquelyn Todaro; and eight grandchildren: Christina, Katherine, and Benjamin Coleman; Emily, Dylan and Tyler Curry; and Courtney and Jeremy Todaro.