Richard F. Vander Veen

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.