Legislator Details
Robert VanderLaan
AKA:
Number of sessions served 10
Gender: Male
Age at election: 32
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 6/4/1930
City: Grand Rapids, Michigan
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 11/1/2015
City:
County:
Country:
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 11/5/2015
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
married Mildred Bouma of Edgerton, Minnesota in 1951; children: 2, Linda Beth and Robert J.
Number of Children: 2
Background
Religion: Christian Reformed
Military Service:
Occupation: teacher
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
one room school until 9th grade;
graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School;
graduated from Calvin College, 1952 AB;
master's in political education from University of Michigan, 1957;
doctoral studies at Michigan State University
Biographical Sketch:
He taught history and government at South Christian High School for 7 years. Was a part-time staff member at Calvin College in 1962. Served as supervisor, clerk, and trustee of Paris Township, MI [later called Kentwood], 1961-63; resigned 1963; he also served the township as trustee and clerk. After leaving the legislature in 1982, he formed Governmental Consultant Services, Incorporated, with former Representative Bobby Crim, which a lobbying firms in Lansing. He retired from the firm in the 1990s. Part of the South YMCA Board of Directors; Kent County Council on Alcoholism; Executive Committee of the Council of State Governments. Vice President of the Council on State Governments.
Notable Facts:
In the 1970s he stated that he had been a delegate to every Republican state convention since 1952.
Sessions Served:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Legislative Council , Senate Administration & Rules, State & Veterans' Affairs
Postions Held: Minority Leader
City of Residence: Kentwood
County of Residence Kent
District: 31
District Description: Thornapple twp, Barry Co.; Sunfiled twp., Eaton Co.; Ionia Co.; Cities of Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids (tracts 3, 11, 23-24, 33-34, 41-46, 118, 126, 35 [blocks 101-104, 123-201, 203-212, 214-218] and 37 [blocks 206-208]), Kentwood, Lowell and Rockford in Kent Co.; townships Ada, Algoma, Bowne, Byron, Caledonia, Cannon, Cascade, Courtland, Gaines, Grand Rapids, Grattan, Lowel, Nelson, Oakfield, Solon, Sparta, Tyrone and Vergennes in Kent Co.; Cities of Carson City & Greenville; townships of Bloomer, Bushnell, Eureka, Fairplain, Montcalm (EDs 45-46) & Sidney (EDs 41-42) in Montcalm Co.
Date Elected: 11/7/1978
Date Sworn In: 1/10/1979
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status:
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Legislative Council , State & Veterans' Affairs, Apportionment , Finance , Joint Administrative Rules
Postions Held: Minority Leader
City of Residence: Kentwood
County of Residence Kent
District: 31
District Description: Thornapple Township in Barry Co.; Sunfield Township in Eaton Co.; Ionia Co.; Cities of Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids (tracts 3, 11, 23-24, 33-34, 41-46, 118, 126, 35 [blocks 101-104, 123-201, 203-212, 214-218] and 37 [blocks 206-208]), Kentwood, Lowell and Rockford in Kent Co.; townships Ada, Algoma, Bowne, Byron, Caledonia, Cannon, Cascade, Courtland, Gaines, Grand Rapids, Grattan, Lowel, Nelson, Oakfield, Solon, Sparta, Tyrone and Vergennes in Kent Co.; Cities of Carson City & Greenville; townships of Bloomer, Bushnell, Eureka, Fairplain, Montcalm (EDs 45-46) & Sidney (EDs 41-42) in Montcalm County
Date Elected: 11/7/1978
Date Sworn In: 1/10/1979
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: Chose not to run
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Conservation, Senate Business , State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Kentwood
County of Residence Kent
District: 31
District Description: Township of Thornapple in Barry County; township of Sunfield in Eaton County; all of Ionia County; cities of Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids tracts 3, 11, 23, 24, 33, 34, 41-46, 118, 126, 35 (blocks 101-104, 123-201, 203-212, 214-218) and 37 (blocks 206-208), Kentwood, Lowell and Rockford; townships of Algoma, Bowne, Byron, Caledonia, Cannon, Cascade, Courtland, Gaines, Grand Rapids,Grattan, Lowell, Nelson, Oakfield, Solon, Sparta, Spencer, Tyrone and Vergennes in Kent County; cities of Carson City and Greenville, townships of Bloomer,Bushnell, Eureka, Fairplain, Montcalm EDs 45 and 46, Sidney EDs 41 and 42 in Montcalm County
Date Elected: 11/5/1974
Date Sworn In: 1/8/1975
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status:
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Conservation, Judiciary , Legislative Council , State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Kentwood
County of Residence Kent
District: 31
District Description: Thornapple twp, Barry Co.; Sunfiled twp., Eaton Co.; Ionia Co.; Cities of Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids (tracts 3, 11, 23-24, 33-34, 41-46, 118, 126, 35 [blocks 101-104, 123-201, 203-212, 214-218] and 37 [blocks 206-208]), Kentwood, Lowell and Rockford in Kent Co.; townships Ada, Algoma, Bone, Byron, Caledonia, Cannon, Cascade, Courtland, Gaines, Grand Rapids, Grattan, Lowel, Nelson, Oakfiled, Solon, Sparta, Tyrone and Vergennes in Kent Co.; Cities of Carson City & Greenville; townships of Bloomer, Bushnell and Eureka, Fairplain, Montcalm (EDs 45-46) & Sidney (EDs 41-42) in Montcalm County
Date Elected: 11/5/1974
Date Sworn In: 1/8/1975
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Committee on Committees , Legislative Council , Senate Business
Postions Held: Senate Republican Leader
City of Residence: Kentwood
County of Residence Kent
District: 31
District Description:
Date Elected: 11/4/1970
Date Sworn In: 1/13/1971
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Committee on Committees; Legislative Council.
Vice-Chair of the Committee on Senate Business.
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Committee on Committees , Legislative Council , Senate Business
Postions Held: Senate Republican Leader
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: 31
District Description: Counties of Ionia, Kent (part), Montcalm (part), and Newaygo (part).
Date Elected: 11/3/1970
Date Sworn In: 1/13/1971
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair: Committee on Committees; Legislative Council. Vice-Chair: Senate Business.
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Education , Interstate Cooperation, Labor , Senate Business
Postions Held: Republican Floor Leader
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: 31
District Description:
Date Elected: 11/8/1966
Date Sworn In: 1/11/1967
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Senate Business; and Interstate Cooperation; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Labor
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Education , Interstate Cooperation, Labor , Legislative Council , Senate Business
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: 31
District Description: Ionia County; and townships of Ada, Algoma, Bowne,
Huron, Caledonia, Cannon, Cascade, Courtland, Gaines, 6
Grand Rapids, Grattan, Lowell, Nelson, Oakfield, Paris, Plainfield, Solon, Sparta, Spencer, Tyrone and
Vergennes; cities of Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids,
Grand Rapids (part), Lowell, Rockford and Wyoming in Kent County; townships of Maple Valley, Pierson and Reynolds in Montcalm County; townships of Croton and Ensley in Newaygo County
Date Elected: 11/8/1966
Date Sworn In: 1/11/1967
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status:
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Senate Business; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Labor
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Education , Labor , Senate Business
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: 31
District Description: Ionia County; and townships of Ada, Algoma, Bowne,
Huron, Caledonia, Cannon, Cascade, Courtland, Gaines, 6
Grand Rapids, Grattan, Lowell, Nelson, Oakfield, Paris, Plainfield, Solon, Sparta, Spencer, Tyrone and
Vergennes; cities of Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids,
Grand Rapids (part), Lowell, Rockford and Wyoming in Kent County; townships of Maple Valley, Pierson and Reynolds in Montcalm County; townships of Croton and Ensley in Newaygo County
Date Elected: 11/4/1964
Date Sworn In: 1/13/1965
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Education , Labor , Public Utilities, Senate Business
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: 17
District Description: City of East Grand Rapids; City of Grand Rapids ward 1, 2 (part) and 3 (part);cities of Cedar Springs, Grandville, Lowell, Rockford and Wyoming; townships of Ada, Algoma, Alpine, Bowne, Byron, Caledonia, Cannon, Cascade, Courtland, Gaines, Grand Rapids, Grattan, Lowell, Nelson, Oakfield, Paris, Plainfield, Solon, Sparta, Spencer, Tyrone Vergennes and Walker
Date Elected: 11/6/1962
Date Sworn In: 1/9/1963
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Labor