Lee Metcalf

Lee Metcalf

Lee Warren Metcalf (* 28. January 1911 in Stevensville , Ravalli County , Montana ; †  12. January 1978 in Helena , Montana) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ), of the state of Montana in both chambers of the US Congress took .

Early years and military service

Metcalf graduated from Stanford University in 1936 , where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He then earned his law exam from Montana State University , was also inducted into the Montana Bar Association in 1936 and began to practice as a lawyer. In 1937 he was a member of the House of Representatives in Montana for the first time politically active; that same year he became the state's assistant attorney general , which he remained until 1941. In December 1942 Metcalf joined the US Army . After training at the officers' school, he was assigned to work in Europe. He took part in Operation Overlord and the defense against the German Battle of the Bulge .

After the end of the war, Metcalf stayed in Germany and took care of the issues of displaced persons , among other things . He helped draft guidelines for the first free elections at local level and oversaw the elections in Bavaria . In April 1946 he was honorably discharged from the army with the rank of First Lieutenant .

Political career

Metcalf returned to the United States and became an associate judge on the Montana Supreme Court in 1946 , which he remained until 1952. On January 3, 1953 he moved to the United States House of Representatives for the first time ; three re-elections followed, so he stayed there until January 3, 1961. He then ran for the US Senate and was also victorious. He was re-elected in 1966 and 1972. During his time in Congress he was, among other things, vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Congressional Operations .

In June 1963, Metcalf was appointed Permanent Acting President pro tempore of the Senate as representative of the sick President pro tempore , Carl Hayden of Arizona , in order to fulfill his duties until his return. Since there was no time limit for the appointment, Metcalf kept this honorary title, which he held as the only senator in history, until his death in January 1978.

Appreciation

The ashes of Lee Metcalf, who ordered a cremation , were scattered over one of his favorite areas in the Montana wilderness. In 1983, Congress enacted the creation of a Wilderness Area under the name Lee Metcalf Wilderness in southwest Montana. A nature reserve is also named after him.

In a poll by Missoulian newspaper of the 100 most influential citizens of Montana in the state's history, Metcalf was ranked 15th.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 100 Most Influential Montanans of the Century

Web links

• Lee Metcalf in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Lee Metcalf in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge on fws.gov