Joel Pritchard
Encyclopedia
Joel McFee Pritchard was a Republican
politician from Washington. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives
and as the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Washington
.
Pritchard was born in Seattle, Washington
to Frank, Sr. and Jean Pritchard on May 5, 1925. He attended public schools as a child and attended Marietta College
from 1946 to 1947. At the rank of Sergeant, he served in the United States Army
from 1944 to 1946 and was president of the Griffin Envelope Company in Seattle from 1948 to 1971. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1956 that renominated Dwight D. Eisenhower
for the presidency
. He was elected to the Washington House of Representatives
representing Washington's thirty-sixth district in 1958 where he served from 1959 to 1967, being reelected in 1960, 1962 and 1964. In the state house, he worked closely with future U.S. Senators Daniel J. Evans
and Slade Gorton
. In 1966, he was elected to the Washington State Senate
where he served a single term from 1967 to 1971. In 1970, Pritchard ran for the U.S. House of Representatives
to represent Washington's first district
, challenging nine-term incumbent Thomas Pelly
in the Republican primary. Pelly was renominated, but by a smaller margin than anyone expected http://www.secstate.wa.gov/legacyproject/collection/pdf/pritchard.pdf.
In 1972, Pelly retired and Pritchard for the for the U.S. House of Representatives
again, this time successfully, defeating opponents John Hempleman and Craig Honts in a closely contested election. He was easily reelected in 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1982, serving from 1973 to 1985. He chose not to run for reelection in 1984. In 1988, he made a successful run for Lieutenant Governor of Washington
becoming president of the Washington Senate. He was reelected in 1992 and served from 1989 to 1997.
After the end of his second term as Lieutenant Governor, Pritchard went into retirement and became a board member of TVW
, Washington's public affairs network. He died on October 9, 1997 in Olympia, Washington
. He was also one of the inventors of pickleball
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...
politician from Washington. He served in the U.S. 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...
and as the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Washington
Lieutenant Governor of Washington
The Lieutenant Governor of Washington is an elected office in the U.S. state of Washington. The current incumbent is Brad Owen, a Democrat who has served since 1997...
.
Pritchard was born in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
to Frank, Sr. and Jean Pritchard on May 5, 1925. He attended public schools as a child and attended Marietta College
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
from 1946 to 1947. At the rank of Sergeant, he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1944 to 1946 and was president of the Griffin Envelope Company in Seattle from 1948 to 1971. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
1956 Republican National Convention
The 1956 Republican National Convention was held by the Republican Party of the United States at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, from August 20 to August 23, 1956. U.S. Senator William F. Knowland was temporary chairman and former speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin, Jr. served as...
in 1956 that renominated Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
for the presidency
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. He was elected to the Washington House of Representatives
Washington House of Representatives
The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, the legislature of the U.S. State of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 districts, each of which elects two members. All members of the House are elected to a two-year term without...
representing Washington's thirty-sixth district in 1958 where he served from 1959 to 1967, being reelected in 1960, 1962 and 1964. In the state house, he worked closely with future U.S. Senators Daniel J. Evans
Daniel J. Evans
Daniel Jackson Evans served three terms as the 16th Governor of the state of Washington from 1965 to 1977, and represented the state in the United States Senate from 1983 to 1989....
and Slade Gorton
Slade Gorton
Thomas Slade Gorton III is an American politician. A Republican, he was a U.S. senator from Washington state from 1981 to 1987, and from 1989 to 2001. He held both of the state's Senate seats in his career and was narrowly defeated for reelection twice as an incumbent: in 1986 by Brock Adams, and...
. In 1966, he was elected to the Washington State Senate
Washington State Senate
The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 senators, each representing a district with a population of nearly 120,000. The State Senate meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia....
where he served a single term from 1967 to 1971. In 1970, Pritchard ran for the U.S. 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...
to represent Washington's first district
Washington's 1st congressional district
Washington's 1st congressional district encompasses part of Northwest Seattle and largely suburban areas north and east of Seattle including Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Bothell, Kirkland and Redmond as well as Bainbridge Island and part of the Kitsap Peninsula. It is currently...
, challenging nine-term incumbent Thomas Pelly
Thomas Pelly
Thomas Minor Pelly , an American politician born in Seattle, Washington, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1953 to 1973. He represented the First Congressional District of Washington as a Republican. Due to health concerns, he did not run for re-election in...
in the Republican primary. Pelly was renominated, but by a smaller margin than anyone expected http://www.secstate.wa.gov/legacyproject/collection/pdf/pritchard.pdf.
In 1972, Pelly retired and Pritchard for the for the U.S. 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...
again, this time successfully, defeating opponents John Hempleman and Craig Honts in a closely contested election. He was easily reelected in 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1982, serving from 1973 to 1985. He chose not to run for reelection in 1984. In 1988, he made a successful run for Lieutenant Governor of Washington
Lieutenant Governor of Washington
The Lieutenant Governor of Washington is an elected office in the U.S. state of Washington. The current incumbent is Brad Owen, a Democrat who has served since 1997...
becoming president of the Washington Senate. He was reelected in 1992 and served from 1989 to 1997.
After the end of his second term as Lieutenant Governor, Pritchard went into retirement and became a board member of TVW
TVW (Washington)
TVW is Washington's public affairs network, providing gavel-to-gavel coverage of Washington State Legislature sessions and coverage of the Washington State Supreme Court and public affairs events. It is widely considered the model state level equivalent of C-SPAN. TVW was founded in 1993 by...
, Washington's public affairs network. He died on October 9, 1997 in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
. He was also one of the inventors of pickleball
Pickleball
Pickleball is a racquet sport which combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. The sport is played on a court with the same dimensions as a doubles badminton court. The net is similar to a tennis net, but is mounted two inches lower...
Electoral history
- 1992 Race for Lieutenant Governor of Washington
- Joel Pritchard (RRepublican 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...
) (inc.), 1,072,968 - Richard Kelley (DDemocratic 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...
), 862,063 - Tom Isenberg (LLibertarian Party (United States)The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
), 75,933
- Joel Pritchard (R
- 1988 Race for Lieutenant Governor of Washington
- Joel Pritchard (R), 960,655
- George FlemingGeorge Fleming (American football)George Fleming was a multi-position college football player for the Washington Huskies. Fleming was a member of Washington's 1960 and 1961 Rose Bowl teams...
(D), 839,593
- 1982 Race for U.S. House of Representatives
- Joel Pritchard (R) (inc.), 123,956
- Brian Long (D), 59,444
- 1980 Race for U.S. House of Representatives
- Joel Pritchard (R) (inc.), 180,475
- Robin Drake (D), 41,830
- 1978 Race for U.S. House of Representatives
- Joel Pritchard (R) (inc.), 99,942
- Janice Niemi (D), 52,706
- 1976 Race for U.S. House of Representatives
- Joel Pritchard (R) (inc.), 161,354
- Dave Wood (D), 58,006
- 1974 Race for U.S. House of Representatives
- Joel Pritchard (R) (inc.), 108,391
- Will Knedlik (D), 44,655
- 1972 Race for U.S. House of Representatives
- Joel Pritchard (R), 107,581
- John Hempleman (D), 104,959
- Craig Honts (SWSocialist Workers Party (United States)The Socialist Workers Party is a far-left political organization in the United States. The group places a priority on "solidarity work" to aid strikes and is strongly supportive of Cuba...
), 1,401