Lloyd Meeds
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Meeds an American
politician, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives
from 1965 to 1979. He represented the Second Congressional District of Washington as a Democrat.
Meeds was born in Dillon, Montana
on 11 December 1927. While in high school, his family moved to Monroe, Washington
. He served in the United States Navy
from 1946 to 1947 and afterwards owned and operated a gas station. He earned his law
degree from Gonzaga University
in 1958.
Meeds first won election to the House by defeating incumbent Republican Alfred Westland
in the election of 1964. Meeds won each of his subsequent bids for re-election with comfortable margins from 1966 up to 1974. In that year, when US District Court Judge George Boldt
ruled that treaties entitled Native Americans
to half of the fish caught in their usual and customary fishing grounds, Meeds angered many of his constituents with his comment that the tribes had the law on their side and that people needed to move on. As a result, he won his 1976 reelection by only 542 votes, which led to his announcement that he would retire from the House to return to practicing law in 1979.
While a Representative, Meeds was known for his work on conservation
and education
issues. He helped create the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area
and the North Cascades National Park
. A memorial to Meeds was erected at the Snow Lake trailhead near Snoqualmie Pass on September 13, 2007, in honor of his work for the creation of Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Snow Lake lies within Alpine Lakes and is a one of the most popular day-hike destinations in it. Harvey Manning
describes Meeds' work in wilderness preservation efforts in his 2007 book Wilderness Alps: Conservation and Conflict in Washington's North Cascades published by the North Cascades Conservation Council http://northcascades.org/book.html.
In contrast to his conservation efforts in Washington state, Meeds was central to efforts to limit land preservation in the bill that eventually became the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
, signed into law by President Jimmy Carter
in December, 1980. Following his retirement from the House
in 1979, he became a Washington lobbyist and worked closely with the state of Alaska
, Representative Don Young
(R-AK), and the Citizens for the Management of Alaskan Lands to limit the scope of federal land preservation in Alaska
in the final bill.
He died at his Church Creek, Maryland
home.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, served as a 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...
from 1965 to 1979. He represented the Second Congressional District of Washington as a Democrat.
Meeds was born in Dillon, Montana
Dillon, Montana
- Notable residents :* Ed Barker - NFL wide receiver - Washington Redskins* Cree Paul - [Where is she now?]* Charles Xavier Larrabee - owner of the nearby stock ranch Brooknook.* Lloyd Meeds - Politician, lobbyist, and navy officer....
on 11 December 1927. While in high school, his family moved to Monroe, Washington
Monroe, Washington
Monroe is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population as of 17,304 at the 2010 census.-History:The history of Monroe is intertwined with that of the Great Northern Railway which pushed over the Cascade Range at Stevens Pass and worked its way down the Skykomish River...
. 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...
from 1946 to 1947 and afterwards owned and operated a gas station. He earned his law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
degree from Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
in 1958.
Meeds first won election to the House by defeating incumbent Republican Alfred Westland
Alfred Westland
Alfred John "Jack" Westland was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1953 to 1965. He represented the Second Congressional District of Washington as a Republican. He was also an accomplished amateur golfer.Westland was born in Everett,...
in the election of 1964. Meeds won each of his subsequent bids for re-election with comfortable margins from 1966 up to 1974. In that year, when US District Court Judge George Boldt
George Boldt
George Charles Boldt was a Prussian-born American hotelier. A self-made millionaire, he influenced the development of the urban hotel as a civic social center and luxury destination.-Philadelphia:...
ruled that treaties entitled Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
to half of the fish caught in their usual and customary fishing grounds, Meeds angered many of his constituents with his comment that the tribes had the law on their side and that people needed to move on. As a result, he won his 1976 reelection by only 542 votes, which led to his announcement that he would retire from the House to return to practicing law in 1979.
While a Representative, Meeds was known for his work on conservation
Conservation ethic
Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
issues. He helped create the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a large wilderness area spanning the Cascade Range of Washington state in the United States. The wilderness is located in parts of Wenatchee National Forest and Snoqualmie National Forest, and is approximately bounded by Interstate 90 and Snoqualmie Pass to the south...
and the North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the state of Washington. The park is the largest of the three National Park Service units that comprise the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Several national wilderness areas and British Columbia parkland adjoin the...
. A memorial to Meeds was erected at the Snow Lake trailhead near Snoqualmie Pass on September 13, 2007, in honor of his work for the creation of Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Snow Lake lies within Alpine Lakes and is a one of the most popular day-hike destinations in it. Harvey Manning
Harvey Manning
Harvey Manning was a noted author of hiking guides and climbing textbooks, and a tireless hiking advocate. Manning lived on Cougar Mountain, within the city limits of Bellevue, Washington, calling his home the "200 meter hut"...
describes Meeds' work in wilderness preservation efforts in his 2007 book Wilderness Alps: Conservation and Conflict in Washington's North Cascades published by the North Cascades Conservation Council http://northcascades.org/book.html.
In contrast to his conservation efforts in Washington state, Meeds was central to efforts to limit land preservation in the bill that eventually became the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act was a United States federal law passed in 1980 by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on December 2 of that year....
, signed into law by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
in December, 1980. Following his retirement from the House
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...
in 1979, he became a Washington lobbyist and worked closely with the state of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Representative Don Young
Don Young
Donald Edwin "Don" Young is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Republican Party.Young is the 6th most senior U.S. Representative and the 2nd most senior Republican Representative, as well as the 2nd most senior Republican in Congress as a whole...
(R-AK), and the Citizens for the Management of Alaskan Lands to limit the scope of federal land preservation in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
in the final bill.
He died at his Church Creek, Maryland
Church Creek, Maryland
Church Creek is a town in Dorchester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 85 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Church Creek is located at...
home.