John Anton Blatnik

A Representative from Minnesota. Born in Chisholm, St. Louis County, Minn. , August 17, 1911. Attended the public schools and graduated from Chisholm High School in June 1929. Taught a one-room rural school in St. Louis County in 1930 and 1931. State Teachers College, Winona, Minn. , B. E. , June 1935. Also attended the University of Chicago during summer of 1938 and the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis in 1941 and 1942. Engaged in CCC work in Superior National Forest in Minnesota 1935-1937. Taught chemistry in high school at Chisholm, Minn. , 1937-1939. Assistant county superintendent of schools of St. Louis County, Minn. , 1939-1941. Member of the Minnesota state senate 1941-1946. Served with the United States Army Air Corps and the Office of Strategic Services from August 1942 until his discharge as a captain on January 1946 with eighteen months' service overseas. Awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal. Elected as a Democrat to the Eightieth Congress. Reelected to the thirteen succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1947, until his resignation December 31, 1974. Chairman, Committee on Public Works (Ninety-second and Ninety-third Congresses). Was not a candidate for reelection in 1974 to the Ninety-fourth Congress. Became a part-time consultant for shippers. Environmental and economic development consultant. Was a resident of Forest Heights, Md. , until his death there on December 17, 1991. Interment at Calvary Cemetery, Chisholm, Minn.