James Kee

James Kee (April 15, 1917 – March 11, 1989) was a U.S. Democratic politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia

James Kee
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from West Virginia's 5th district
In office
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1973
Preceded byElizabeth Kee
Succeeded byKen Hechler (Redistricting)
Personal details
Born(1917-04-15)April 15, 1917
Bluefield, West Virginia
DiedMarch 11, 1989(1989-03-11) (aged 71)
Montgomery, West Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Helen Lee Chapman
Alma materGeorgetown University

Life and career

Kee was born in Bluefield, West Virginia. He was the son of John Kee, who represented the Bluefield-based 5th District from 1933 until his death in 1951, and Elizabeth Kee, who succeeded her husband in Congress and served from 1951 until 1965. James Kee served as his mother's administrative assistant from 1953 to 1965. When his mother decided not to run for re-election in 1964, he ran for his mother's old seat and won, serving in the 89th through the 92nd U.S. Congress from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1973. Kee voted in favor of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Civil Rights Act of 1968.[1][2]

After West Virginia lost a seat in the House of Representatives as a result of the 1970 U.S. Census, Kee's 5th District was merged with the Huntington-based 4th District, represented by fellow Democrat Ken Hechler. The state legislature intended to force Hechler, a firm opponent of the Democratic Party machine, out of office; indeed, the new district contained 65% of Kee's former territory even though it retained Hechler's district number. However, Hechler made the most of his strong union ties and routed Kee in the primary.

Kee was a resident of Fayetteville, West Virginia until his death in Montgomery, West Virginia on March 11, 1989 at the age of 71.

See also
  • United States Congressional Delegations from West Virginia

References
  1. "TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT".
  2. "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES".
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Elizabeth Kee		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from West Virginia's 5th congressional district
1965–1973		 District eliminated


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