Michael L. Strang

Michael Lathrop "Mike" Strang (June 17, 1929 – January 12, 2014) was an American politician who was a one-term Republican U.S. Representative from Colorado from 1985 to 1987.

Michael L. Strang
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	Ray Kogovsek
Succeeded by	Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office 1971–1975
Preceded by	John D. Vanderhoof
Succeeded by	Nancy E. Dick
Personal details
Born	Michael Lathrop Strang (1929-06-17)June 17, 1929 New Hope, Pennsylvania
Died	January 12, 2014(2014-01-12) (aged 84) Carbondale, Colorado
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Kathleen "Kit" Sherry
Children	4
Alma mater	Princeton University (A.B.)
Occupation	investment banker, rancher

Early life

Born in New Hope, Pennsylvania, Strang was the grandson of landscape painter William Langson Lathrop. His family moved to Colorado in 1932, where he was raised and homeschooled at their ranch near Golden.^[1][2]

Korean War

He served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army from 1950 to 1953.

Education

Strang graduated with an A.B. in history from Princeton University in 1956 after completing a senior thesis titled "Law, Politics and Religion: The Mercury View."^[3] He then did graduate work at the University of Geneva in Switzerland.

Career

He was a rancher and investment banker from 1957 to 1985.^[4]

Strang served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1970 to 1974, where he notably introduced legislation to legalize and regulate the sale and consumption of marijuana.^[1][5]

Congress

In 1984, he was elected as a Republican to the Ninety-ninth Congress, defeating W Mitchell. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1986, losing to Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

Later career and death

He resumed horse and cattle ranching and worked as a consultant on natural resources and taxes. He was a resident of Carbondale, Colorado until his death there on January 12, 2014.^[1][4]

Electoral history

1984 United States House of Representatives elections^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michael L. Strang	122,669	57%
	Democratic	W. Mitchell	90,963	42%
	Libertarian	Robert Jahelka	1,358	0.5%
	Independent	Henry John Olshaw	880	0.5%
Total votes			215,870	100%
	Republican gain from Democratic

1986 United States House of Representatives elections^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Nighthorse Campbell	95,353	52%
	Republican	Michael L. Strang (Incumbent)	88,508	48%
Total votes			183,861	100%
	Democratic gain from Republican