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William Van Pelt

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William Van Pelt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 6th district
In office
January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1965
Preceded byFrank Bateman Keefe
Succeeded byJohn Abner Race
Personal details
Born(1905-03-10)March 10, 1905
Glenbeulah, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedJune 2, 1996(1996-06-02) (aged 91)
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeRienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Sophia Cornelia Schmidt
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1931; died 1962)​
  • Anne Trimble
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1962; died 1994)​
Children
  • Peter
  • Julie Ann
RelativesClayton F. Van Pelt (brother)
OccupationBusinessman

William Kaiser Van Pelt (March 10, 1905 – June 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

William Van Pelt was the fourth of five children born to George and May M. (née 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[edit]

U.S. House (1950–1964)[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Van Pelt, William K. 1905". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "Dewey Appears Choice to Oppose Roosevelt in Fall". Oshkosh Northwestern. April 5, 1944. p. 11. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "27 Alternate GOP Delegates are Approved". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. April 30, 1948. p. 7. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Caucus Votes Against Endorsing Candidates". The Sheboygan Press. May 26, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Wiley Gets GOP Foe at Deadline on Filing". Wisconsin State Journal. July 26, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Everett, Winter (September 10, 1950). "Tossup Seen in 6th District". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 22. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Van Pelt, Kunde Nominees in Sixth Congressional District". Oshkosh Northwestern. September 20, 1950. p. 4. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1952). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. p. 746. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  9. ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
  10. ^ "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
  11. ^ "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
  12. ^ "H.R. 7152. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION (H. RES. 789) PROVIDING FOR HOUSE APPROVAL OF THE BILL AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE".
  13. ^ "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
  14. ^ "Representative Contest is Most Spirited Race". Oshkosh Northwestern. September 4, 1964. p. 4. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1966 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 735, 752. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "William K. Van Pelt". Fond du Lac Reporter. June 4, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Rep. Van Pelt's Father Dies at 101". Oshkosh Northwestern. October 5, 1964. p. 2. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  18. ^ "Home Rites Planned for Head of Firm". Fond du Lac Reporter. November 2, 1966. p. 40. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Van Pelt to Wed Capitol Hill Clerk". Wisconsin State Journal. November 13, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1954). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1954 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 658, 758. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  21. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1956). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1956 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 705, 748. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  22. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1958). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1958 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 669, 774. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  23. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Wisconsin State Party Platforms and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1960 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 655, 696. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  24. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1962). "Wisconsin State Party Platforms and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1962 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 790, 865. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  25. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1962). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1962 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 714, 761. Retrieved July 5, 2024.

External links[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 6th congressional district
January 3, 1951 - January 3, 1965 		Succeeded by
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