Melvin Price

Charles Melvin Price (January 1, 1905 April 22, 1988) was a member of the United States House of Representatives for over 40 years, from 1945 to his death. He represented Metro East, the Illinois portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Most notably, he served as the chairman of the United States House Committee on Armed Services between 1975 and 1985. He lost this position at the beginning of the 99th United States Congress. Overthrowing a committee chairman was not a common occurrence at that time, but a majority of the House Democratic Caucus seemed to feel that the aged Price was no longer up to the job. In addition, Price, while liberal on domestic issues, was notably more supportive of defense spending than most Democrats. When it came to choosing Price's successor, the Caucus bypassed several other old hawkish members of the committee in favor of Les Aspin, who was not only much younger than Price and other more senior members, but also seemed closer in his defense policy preferences to the majority of the Democratic Caucus.

Melvin Price
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois
In office
January 3, 1945  April 22, 1988
Preceded byCalvin D. Johnson
Succeeded byJerry Costello
Constituency22nd District (1945-1949)
25th District (1949-1953)
24th District (1953-1973)
23rd District (1973-1983)
21st District (1983-1988)
Chair of the House Committee on Armed Services
In office
January 3, 1975  January 3, 1985
Preceded byF. Edward Hebert
Succeeded byLes Aspin
Member of the St. Clair County, Illinois Board of Supervisors
In office
1929–1931
Personal details
Born
Charles Melvin Price

January 1, 1905
East St. Louis, Illinois
DiedApril 22, 1988(1988-04-22) (aged 83)
Camp Springs, Maryland
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materSt. Louis University
Military service
AllegianceUnited States Army
Branch/serviceQuartermaster Corps
Years of service1943–1944

Price was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, and graduated from St. Louis University High School and Saint Louis University. After graduating, he worked for several years as a journalist before taking work as a secretary for Congressman Edwin Schaefer in 1933. He served there for ten years, after which he joined the U.S. Army in 1943, at the height of World War II; Price served in the quartermaster corps. He was elected to Congress in his own right in 1944. During his time in Congress, he also chaired the Ethics Committee (1967–76) and the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (1973–74). He remained in Congress until his death.

Congressman Price is probably most famous for his role in enacting the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act. He died in 1988 of pancreatic cancer.[1] Price is the namesake of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, near Alton, Illinois on the Upper Mississippi River, and the Melvin Price Federal Building and United States Courthouse in East St. Louis.

See also

  • List of United States Congress members who died in office (1950–99)

References

  1. Rangel, Jesus (April 23, 1988). "Representative Melvin Price, 83, Is Dead of Cancer After 22 Terms". New York Times.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Calvin D. Johnson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 22nd congressional district

19451949
Succeeded by
Rolla C. McMillen
Preceded by
C. W. Bishop
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 25th congressional district

19491953
Succeeded by
C. W. Bishop
Preceded by
Charles W. Vursell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 24th congressional district

19531973
Succeeded by
Kenneth J. Gray
Preceded by
George E. Shipley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 23rd congressional district

19731983
District eliminated
Preceded by
Edward R. Madigan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 21st congressional district

19831988
Succeeded by
Jerry Costello
Political offices
Preceded by
F. Edward Hebert
Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
19751985
Succeeded by
Les Aspin
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