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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.
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 by | Frank Bateman Keefe |
| Succeeded by | John Abner Race |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 10, 1905 Glenbeulah, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | June 2, 1996 (aged 91) Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Rienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
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| Children |
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| Relatives | Clayton F. Van Pelt (brother) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
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]
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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]
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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]
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U.S. House (1950–1964)
| 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 | |
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