William Van Pelt

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". William Kaiser Van Pelt (March 10, 1905Template:SpndJune 2, 1996) was an American businessman and Republican politician from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin's 6th congressional district from 1951 to 1965. He served on the House Science & Astronautics Committee during the first years of the space race.

Early life and career

William Van Pelt was born in Glenbeulah, Wisconsin. As a child, he moved with his family to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he resided for most of the rest of his life. He graduated from Fond du Lac High School in 1923.[1]

In 1939, he became a co-owner of the City Fuel Company in Fond du Lac, a retail fuel seller. He operated the company in partnership with his wife until 1952. During that time he was also increasingly active in the Republican Party of Wisconsin, and served six years as chairman of the Fond du Lac County Republican Party.[1]

Political career

He was elected as a delegate to the 1944 Republican National Convention, pledged to support governor Harold Stassen.[2] He supported Stassen as a delegate again at the 1948 convention.[3]

Van Pelt made his first run for public office in 1950, when he ran for U.S. House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, to succeed Frank Bateman Keefe, who had announced his retirement.[4] He faced a difficult primary against state senator Louis J. Fellenz Jr.[5] Despite two other candidates in the primary, the race was largely seen as a contest between Fellenz and Van Pelt, who were both scions of prominent Fond du Lac families. They had no serious policy disagreements, so attacked each other's qualifications. Van Pelt alleged that Fellenz's absences during the 68th Wisconsin Legislature demonstrated a lack of fidelity to his constituents; Fellenz pointed out that Van Pelt lacked any actual legislative experience.[6] Van Pelt won the primary with 36% of the vote, thanks to strong support in Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties.[7] In the general election he easily defeated Kenneth Kunde of Oshkosh.[8]

He won re-election six times, serving from January 3, 1951, till January 3, 1965. He voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960,[9][10] but voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.[11][12][13]

In 1964, he faced a difficult primary challenge from popular young Winnebago County district attorney Jack D. Steinhilber. Steinhilber attacked Van Pelt for a poor attendance record in the 88th Congress, but had no significant policy differences.[14] Van Pelt prevailed in the primary but lost his seat in the Democratic wave election of 1964. He fell 2,587 votes short of union machinist John A. Race.[15]

Personal life and family

William Van Pelt was the fourth of five children born to George and May M. (Template:Nee Lyon) Van Pelt.[16] George Van Pelt worked as a farmer and factory laborer.[17] William's elder brother Clayton Van Pelt served 15 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge.[18]

William Van Pelt married twice; his first wife was Sophia Cornelia Schmidt. They married in 1931 and raised two children before Sophia's death in January 1962. That November, Van Pelt married Anne Trimble, who was then working as a clerk at the United States Capitol.[19]

Van Pelt had a quiet retirement after leaving office. He returned to Fond du Lac and resided there until his death on June 2, 1996.[16]

Electoral history

U.S. House (1950–1964)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1950 Primary[7] Sep. 19 William Van Pelt rowspan="3" valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 15,368 36.28% Louis J. Fellenz Jr. valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Rep. 12,126 28.63% 42,358 3,242
Francis L. McElligott valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Rep. 8,037 18.97%
John P. Doherty valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Rep. 6,827 16.12%
General[8] Nov. 7 William Van Pelt valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 66,289 65.05% Kenneth Kunde valign="top" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem. 35,618 34.95% 101,908 30,671
1952 General[20] Nov. 4 William Van Pelt (inc) valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 103,464 71.66% Ralph A. Norem valign="top" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem. 40,910 28.34% 144,374 62,554
1954 General[21] Nov. 2 William Van Pelt (inc) valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 68,653 62.50% Russell S. Johnson valign="top" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem. 41,191 37.50% 109,844 27,462
1956 General[22] Nov. 6 William Van Pelt (inc) valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 96,783 67.18% Rudolph J. Ploetz valign="top" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem. 47,277 32.82% 144,062 49,506
1958 General[23] Nov. 4 William Van Pelt (inc) valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 61,490 52.77% James Megellas valign="top" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem. 55,031 47.23% 116,521 6,459
1960 General[24] Nov. 8 William Van Pelt (inc) valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 91,450 55.80% James Megellas valign="top" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem. 72,442 44.20% 163,892 19,008
1962 General[25] Nov. 6 William Van Pelt (inc) valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 71,298 59.15% John A. Race valign="top" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem. 49,238 40.85% 120,538 22,060
1964 Primary[15] Sep. 8 William Van Pelt (inc) valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 24,569 54.12% Jack D. Steinhilber valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Rep. 20,827 45.88% 45,396 3,742
General[15] Nov. 3 John A. Race valign="top" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 84,690 50.77% William Van Pelt (inc) valign="top" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Rep. 82,103 49.22% 166,798 2,587

References

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External links

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