Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 6
Gender: Male
Age at election: 48
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 2/6/1934
City: Pipestone, MN
County: Pipestone County, MN
Country: US
Death
Date: 8/15/2017
City: Grand Rapids, MI
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 8/24/2017
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
married Johanna (Jo) Meulink, 1958; children: Heidi, Brian, Marla, Todd.
Number of Children: 4
Background
Religion: Christian Reformed Church
Military Service:
Occupation: physicist, professor
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
Student, Calvin College 1952-55;
AB, University California, Berkeley, 1956;
PhD, University California-Berkeley in Physics, 1960
Biographical Sketch:
Educated at home by his parents. Taught & did scientific research, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 1956-66; prof. of physics, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, 1966-83; staff, US Rep. Gerald R. Ford of Michigan; commissioner, Kent Co., MI, 1975-83. Member Governor Milliken's Task Force on Environmental Problems, 1977, Kent County Rep. Executive Committee, Kent County Board Commissioners, 1975-83, chairman, 1979-82, Michigan Toxic Substance Control Commission, 1982; assistant floor leader Michigan State House of Reps., 1983-85. NATO Research fellow University Heidelberg, Germany, 1961-62, Sci. Faculty fellow National Science Foundation, Joint Institutes for Laboratory Astrophysics, University Colorado 1971-72, fellow Calvin College Center for Christian Scholar, 1977-78.
Notable Facts:
Elected to the 103rd Congress by spec. election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Paul B. Henry, reelected to succeeding Congresses 12/7/1993-2008. Retired in 2010. Chairman Joint Committee Libr. Congress; Congressional committees: transportation and infrastructure; science; education and workforce; house administration.
Phi Beta Kappa
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health, Michigan Capitol Committee, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs , Appropriations Subcommittee on Joint Capital Outlay
Postions Held: President Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Notes: Subcommittees Chair: Natural Resources; Public Health.
Vice-Chair: Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs.
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs , Appropriations Subcommittee on Capital Outlay, Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources
Postions Held: President Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
District Description: Twps of Ada, Cannon, Courtland (pt. tract 108--Courtland twp less the portion which is located w/in Rockford City); Grand Rapids, Grattan, Oakfield and Vergennes; cities of East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids
Reason for Leaving Office: Resigned
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Elected to the U.S. House from the 3rd Congressional district in Dec. 1993. Succeeded by Glenn Steil 4/28/1994.
Resigned from the MI Senate 1/13/1994
He also served as a member of the Michigan Capitol Committee.
Committees Served On: Economic Development, Education and Mental Health, Health Policy , Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
District Description: Twps of Ada, Cannon, Courtland (pt. tract 108--Courtland twp less the portion which is located w/in Rockford City); Grand Rapids, Grattan, Oakfield and Vergennes; cities of East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Health Policy
Committees Served On: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs , Health Policy , Education and Mental Health, Energy
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
District Description: Twps of Ada, Cannon, Courtland (pt. tract 108--Courtland twp less the portion which is located w/in Rockford City); Grand Rapids, Grattan, Oakfield and Vergennes; cities of East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources and Env. Affairs; Vice Chair of the Committee on Health Policy.
Committees Served On: Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, Education , Higher Education and Technology, Public and Mental Health
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
District Description: Townships of Ada, Cannon, Courtland (pt. tract 108--Courtland township less the portion which is located w/in Rockford City); Grand Rapids, Grattan, Oakfield and Vergennes; cities of East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids in Kent County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Elected to replace Paul B. Henry who was elected to Congress 11/6/1984.
Chair of the Committee on Public and Mental Health; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Higher Education and Technology
Committees Served On: Public Health , Social Services & Youth
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
District Description: City of Grand Rapids pt.--tracts 22-25, 28-35, 37-38, 40-46, 126 (that portion of Grand Rapids City which lies below a line beginning at western city limits and Burton, east on Burton to US 131, north to C & O Railroad spur, east to Division, south to Crofton, east to Jefferson, north to Chesapeake railroad, east to Eastern, north to Hall, west to US 131, north to Wealthy, east to College Ave., north to I-196, east to I-96, east to Beltline, south on Beltline to city limits) in Kent County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Elected to the state senate 3/26/1985
Bibliography:
CongBio p.987; Gongwer2002; WWAM58th; Manual 1989 p.137; 1988 Michigan Legislative Handbook p.13;
