Harold S. Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Harold Samuel Sawyer was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Sawyer was born in San Francisco, California
, and attended the public schools of the San Francisco Bay area. He graduated from Marin Junior College (now the College of Marin
), Kentfield, California
and from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1940. He earned a J.D.
from the Hastings College of Law at the University of California, San Francisco
in 1943. He served in the United States Navy
during World War II
, after which he settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan
and established a successful private law practice.
From 1968 to 1976, Sawyer was a member of the Michigan Law Revision Commission. From 1975 to 1976, he was prosecuting attorney for Kent County
. In 1976, Sawyer defeated incumbent Democrat Richard Vander Veen to reclaim Michigan's 5th congressional district
for the Republican
s. The seat had been held by Gerald R. Ford until he was appointed to become Vice President of the United States
. Sawyer was elected to the Ninety-fifth
and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1985. He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-ninth Congress in 1984. During his tenure, he served on the House Select Committee on Assassinations.
Sawyer died at his home in Algoma Township
after battling throat cancer. He is interred in Rockford Cemetery, in Rockford, Michigan
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Sawyer was born in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, and attended the public schools of the San Francisco Bay area. He graduated from Marin Junior College (now the College of Marin
College of Marin
The College of Marin is a community college in Marin County, California, U.S., with two campuses, one in Kentfield, and the second in Novato. It is the only institution operated by the Marin Community College District. Its chief executive officer is currently Superintendent/President David Wain...
), Kentfield, California
Kentfield, California
Kentfield is a census-designated place in Marin County, California, United States, just north of San Francisco. Kentfield is located on the Northwestern Pacific Railroad southwest of downtown San Rafael, at an elevation of 115 feet . The population was 6,485 at the 2010 census...
and from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1940. He earned a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the Hastings College of Law at the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
in 1943. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, after which he settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
and established a successful private law practice.
From 1968 to 1976, Sawyer was a member of the Michigan Law Revision Commission. From 1975 to 1976, he was prosecuting attorney for Kent County
Kent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
. In 1976, Sawyer defeated incumbent Democrat Richard Vander Veen to reclaim Michigan's 5th congressional district
Michigan's 5th congressional district
Michigan's 5th congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.It is currently a mostly industrial area , with Tuscola County being the main exception. It encompasses much of the area south of Saginaw Bay...
for the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
s. The seat had been held by Gerald R. Ford until he was appointed to become Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
. Sawyer was elected to the Ninety-fifth
95th United States Congress
The Ninety-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1979, during the first two years...
and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1985. He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-ninth Congress in 1984. During his tenure, he served on the House Select Committee on Assassinations.
Sawyer died at his home in Algoma Township
Algoma Township, Michigan
Algoma Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 7,596.Algoma was originally settled in 1843...
after battling throat cancer. He is interred in Rockford Cemetery, in Rockford, Michigan
Rockford, Michigan
Rockford is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,719. It is on the Rogue River and is only a few miles north of Grand Rapids.- History :...
.
External links
- Find A Grave Memorial
- Statement from Representative Vernon J. Ehlers upon Sawyer's death
- Harold Sawyer, R.I.P. by John Gizzi in Human EventsHuman EventsHuman Events is a weekly American conservative magazine. It takes its name from the first sentence of the United States Declaration of Independence...
, April 28, 2003