Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Carol Doorn in 1964; children: Virginia
Number of Children: 1
Background
Education:
attended Cadillac H.S., 1945-1949;
graduated from Hope College,1953; bachelor of divinity degree Yale University, 1955; BD degree
Bonn University, Rotary Fellowship, 1956;
University of Michigan, 1960; LLB
Biographical Sketch:
He was the son of a livestock dealer and farmer who had immigrated from the Netherlands. He was preaching at Tustin Presbyterian Church while in high school.
He won a national oratorical championship from Hope College and undefeated in four years of extemporaneous speaking competition. He studied for a year at the University of Bonn in Germany, returning to study law at Georgetown University. He transferred to the University of Michigan Law School.
Practiced law in Grand Rapids, MI, 1960-1964 with the law firm of Warner Norcross and Judd. He was news director, WWTV, Cadillac, MI. Selected by Junior Chamber of Commerce as "One of Five Outstanding Young Men in Michigan" in 1956. In Congress, Mr. Vander Jagt worked to establish Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. After leaving office, he worked in Washington, D.C., as a lobbyist. He specialized in tax issues At the time of his death he was with the Washington-based Baker Hosteltler law firm as a leader in its national Federal Policy Group. Member, Rotary; Freemasons. He died of pancreatic cancer.
Former news director of WWTV in Cadillac. Former Foreign correspondent (European) for radio and newspaper.
Notable Facts:
Elected to the 89th Congress, by special election, 11/8/1966, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert P. Griffin, & at the same time elected to the 90th Congress; reelected to the 12 succeeding Congresses serving from 1966-1993. 1980, delivered the keynote address in Detroit for Ronald Reagan's nominating convention. Known for his oratorical skills.
SR 84, 2007 House Journal, p. 1061, reported tha he had died. No date or place of death