Richard Franklin VANDER VEEN, Congress, MI (1922-2006)

VANDER VEEN Richard Franklin , a Representative from Michigan; born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., November 26, 1922; attended the public schools; graduated from Muskegon High School, Muskegon, Mich., 1940; B.S., University of South Carolina, Columbia, 1946; LL.B., Harvard Law School, 1949; enlisted in the United States Navy January 1941, served until 1946, with active duty in the South Pacific Theater; also served in the Korean Conflict, lieutenant (jg.), 1950-1952; admitted to the Michigan bar in 1949 and commenced practice in Grand Rapids; chairman, Michigan Fifth District Democratic Party, 1959; delegate, Michigan State Democratic conventions, 1962, 1964; chairman, Michigan State Democratic convention, 1960; president, Vander Veen, Freihofer & Cook, P.C.; elected to East Grand Rapids Board of Education, 1969-1974; served on the Michigan State Mental Health Commission, 1958-1963, and Michigan State Highway Commission, 1964-1969; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-third Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative Gerald R. Ford, and reelected to the Ninety-fourth Congress (February 18, 1974-January 3, 1977); unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fifth Congress in 1978; unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate in 1978; member, Michigan State Waterways commission, 1984-2006; president, Resource Energy Company; died on March 3, 2006, in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present