Herbert H. Bateman
Encyclopedia
Herbert "Herb" Harvell Bateman (August 7, 1928 – September 11, 2000) was an American
politician in Virginia
. He was a nine-term member of the United States House of Representatives
, serving as a Republican
.
on August 7, 1928. However, he lived most of his life in Newport News, Virginia
. A graduate of Newport News High School
in 1945, Bateman went on to William and Mary
to earn a Bachelor's degree
. After graduation, he briefly taught at Hampton High School
from 1949 to 1951, when he enlisted in the United States Air Force
as a 1st lieutenant during the Korean War
. He served until 1953.
Upon his return home, Bateman enrolled in the Law Center at Georgetown University
, where in 1956 he earned his law degree. He served a short time as a clerk for the United States Court of Appeals
in Washington, D.C.
before practicing law privately in Newport News from 1968 to 1983. During this period he worked to build a political base through community activism and membership in the Virginia Jaycees
. Bateman served as president of the Virginia Jaycees and National legal counsel for the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce.
for 14 years, representing a portion of Newport News. He was originally a Democrat
, but became a Republican in 1976.
In 1982, he was elected to succeed Paul S. Trible, Jr.
as the representative for the 1st District in the United States House of Representatives
. While serving in the House, Bateman was a member of the Armed Forces and Transportation Infrastructure Committees, while chairing the Subcommittee on Military Readiness and the House Merchant Marine Panel.
While in the House of Representatives, Bateman's voting record was moderate by Southern Republican standards; he had a lifetime rating of 79 from the American Conservative Union
. He was a strong supporter of controlling government spending. However, he was particularly active on defense issues. Since Newport News was a center for military work, he strongly supported military spending. He also served his constituents as a member of organizations such as the Virginia Jaycees, Peninsula United Way and Red Cross Blood Donor Program.
and prostate cancer
. In 1995, he suffered a heart attack, but was able to recover. He had surgery to remove cancer from his right lung in 1998, and had a partial blockage of a major artery removed in 1999. He was diagnosed with a cancerous lymph node in January 2000, which prompted him to not seek re-election.
Bateman died on September 11, 2000 from natural causes. He was in Leesburg, Virginia
at the time for a golf tournament. He was serving out the remainder of his ninth term at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife, Laura, and two children, a son and daughter. His son, Herbert H. Bateman Jr., presently serves on the Newport News City Council and on the Peninsula Airport Commission. Daughter, Laura Margaret Bateman, is a public affairs specialist in Richmond, VA and Key West, FL. Both his papers from his time as a state senator as well as his papers from his time in Congress can be found at the Special Collections Research Center at the College of William & Mary.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He was a nine-term member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, serving as a 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...
.
Early life
Bateman was born in Elizabeth City, North CarolinaElizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County....
on August 7, 1928. However, he lived most of his life in Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
. A graduate of Newport News High School
Newport News High School
Newport News High School was a high school located in Newport News, Virginia. It was located at 3100 Huntington Avenue and operated by Newport News Public Schools.-History:...
in 1945, Bateman went on to William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
to earn a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
. After graduation, he briefly taught at Hampton High School
Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)
Hampton High School is a public secondary school located in Hampton, Virginia. It is the oldest standing high school in Hampton Public Schools. It contains an International Baccalaureate World School with the Diploma Programme.Hampton high is the first high school in the Hampton city high school...
from 1949 to 1951, when he enlisted in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as a 1st lieutenant during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He served until 1953.
Upon his return home, Bateman enrolled in the Law Center at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, where in 1956 he earned his law degree. He served a short time as a clerk for the United States Court of Appeals
United States court of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
before practicing law privately in Newport News from 1968 to 1983. During this period he worked to build a political base through community activism and membership in the Virginia Jaycees
United States Junior Chamber
The United States Junior Chamber is a leadership training and civic organization for people between the ages of 18 and 41. Areas of emphasis are business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections. The U.S...
. Bateman served as president of the Virginia Jaycees and National legal counsel for the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Political career
Bateman was a member of the Senate of VirginiaSenate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
for 14 years, representing a portion of Newport News. He was originally a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, but became a Republican in 1976.
In 1982, he was elected to succeed Paul S. Trible, Jr.
Paul S. Trible, Jr.
Paul Seward Trible, Jr. is a former Representative and Senator in the United States Congress from Virginia and current president of Christopher Newport University. Trible graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1968 where he received his Bachelor of Arts in History...
as the representative for the 1st District in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. While serving in the House, Bateman was a member of the Armed Forces and Transportation Infrastructure Committees, while chairing the Subcommittee on Military Readiness and the House Merchant Marine Panel.
While in the House of Representatives, Bateman's voting record was moderate by Southern Republican standards; he had a lifetime rating of 79 from the American Conservative Union
American Conservative Union
The American Conservative Union is an American political organization advocating conservative policies, and is the oldest such conservative lobbying organization in the country.-Organization:...
. He was a strong supporter of controlling government spending. However, he was particularly active on defense issues. Since Newport News was a center for military work, he strongly supported military spending. He also served his constituents as a member of organizations such as the Virginia Jaycees, Peninsula United Way and Red Cross Blood Donor Program.
Health Issues
Health was a major concern for Bateman during the 1990s. In 1990, he was diagnosed with lungLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
and prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. In 1995, he suffered a heart attack, but was able to recover. He had surgery to remove cancer from his right lung in 1998, and had a partial blockage of a major artery removed in 1999. He was diagnosed with a cancerous lymph node in January 2000, which prompted him to not seek re-election.
Bateman died on September 11, 2000 from natural causes. He was in Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
at the time for a golf tournament. He was serving out the remainder of his ninth term at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife, Laura, and two children, a son and daughter. His son, Herbert H. Bateman Jr., presently serves on the Newport News City Council and on the Peninsula Airport Commission. Daughter, Laura Margaret Bateman, is a public affairs specialist in Richmond, VA and Key West, FL. Both his papers from his time as a state senator as well as his papers from his time in Congress can be found at the Special Collections Research Center at the College of William & Mary.