Harold Volkmer
| Harold L. Volkmer | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 9th district |
|
|
In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1997 |
|
| Preceded by | William L. Hungate |
| Succeeded by | Kenny Hulshof |
| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives | |
|
In office 1967–1977 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 4, 1931 Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | April 16, 2011 (aged 80) Hannibal, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Shirley Ruth Braskett (1955–1995; her death); 3 children Dian Poole Sprenger |
| Alma mater |
Saint Louis University University of Missouri School of Law |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Harold Lee Volkmer (April 4, 1931 – April 16, 2011) was an American politician from Missouri. He was a Democrat who served 20 years in the United States House of Representatives.
Volkmer grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he "got his start in politics helping his mother campaign in Jefferson City, Missouri, for the re-election of President Franklin Roosevelt." He attended Jefferson City Junior College and Saint Louis University. He later received his law degree from the University of Missouri, and passed the bar exam even before graduating. He married the former Shirley Ruth Braskett (died in 1995) in 1955, and they became the parents of two sons and a daughter. Volkmer served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957.
Prior to entering politics, Volkmer operated a private law practice in Hannibal, Missouri.
After graduating from law school, "Volkmer quickly entered public service, first as an Assistant Attorney General for the State, and then in the United States Army. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Marion County in 1960, and then State Representative in 1966." Volkmer was re-elected to the Missouri House of Representatives four times. "During his ten years in the Missouri legislature, he earned the same reputation that he would have had in Congress. An 'energetic blunt-talking lawyer' and 'a maverick,' in the words of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Volkmer led the way on a major reorganization of the executive branch of state government. As the Republican minority leader later recalled, 'Volkmer was the brains for all of us. He understood the issue of reorganization better than anybody in the Legislature. We all looked to him for leadership, including me. I don’t like to say that, darn it, because he’s a Democrat. But it’s true.'"
As Chairman of the Missouri House Judiciary Committee, Volkmer sought and obtained approval of the Equal Rights Amendment by the Missouri House of Representatives. In 1976, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives and was re-elected nine times.
...
Wikipedia