Dale Kildee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dale Kildee
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan |
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| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Donald Riegle |
| Succeeded by | Dan Kildee |
| Constituency | 7th district (1977–1993) 9th district (1993–2003) 5th district (2003–2013) |
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 29th district |
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| In office January 1975 – December 1976 |
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| Preceded by | Garland Lane |
| Succeeded by | Harold Scott |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 81st district |
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| In office January 1965 – December 1974 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Mark Clodfelter |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Dale Edward Kildee
September 16, 1929 Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | October 13, 2021 (aged 92) Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Gayle Kildee |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Dan Kildee (nephew) |
| Education | Sacred Heart Major Seminary (BA) University of Detroit (GrCert) University of Peshawar University of Michigan (MA) |
Dale Edward Kildee (September 16, 1929 – October 13, 2021) was an American politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Michigan. He held this important role from 1977 to 2013.
Mr. Kildee was a member of the Democratic Party. His district included cities like Flint, Saginaw, and Bay City. In 2011, he announced he would retire. His nephew, Dan Kildee, took over his seat in 2013.
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Early Life and Education
Dale Kildee was born in Flint, Michigan, on September 16, 1929. He was one of five children in his family. In his last year of high school, he won the American Legion Medal of Citizenship. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1947.
He went to Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. There, he earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in 1952. He also got a teacher's certificate from the University of Detroit in 1955.
Studying Abroad and Teaching Career
From 1958 to 1959, Dale Kildee studied history and political science. He did this graduate work at the University of Peshawar in Pakistan. He was able to study there thanks to a Rotary Foundation Fellowship. Later, in 1961, he earned his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from the University of Michigan.
Before becoming a full-time politician, Kildee was a teacher. He taught at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy from 1954 to 1956. After that, he returned to Flint and taught Latin until 1964.
Serving Michigan in the State Legislature
Dale Kildee began his political career in Michigan's state government. He was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives. He represented the 81st district from 1965 to 1974.
After that, he moved to the Michigan State Senate. He served as a state senator from 1975 to 1976. These roles helped him understand the needs of Michigan citizens.
Representing Michigan in the U.S. House
In 1977, Dale Kildee became a member of the United States House of Representatives. This is part of the U.S. Congress, where laws are made for the whole country. He represented Michigan for 36 years.
How Did He Get Elected?
In 1976, the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 7th district resigned. Dale Kildee ran for the open seat and won with 70% of the votes. This showed he had strong support from the people.
He was re-elected 17 times! This means he won his elections again and again. Most of the time, he won with more than half of the votes. He faced tough elections in 1992, 1994, and 2010. Even then, he managed to win and continue serving his district.
What Did He Do in Congress?
Dale Kildee worked on many important issues. In 1997, he helped create the House's Native American Caucus. This group worked to support issues important to Native American communities.
He was also a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. This committee deals with education and jobs. He also served on the House Committee on Resources. This committee looks after national parks and public lands. From 1993, he co-chaired the Congressional Automotive Caucus. This group focused on issues related to the car industry.
Personal Life
Dale Kildee met his wife, Gayle, when they were both teachers. Gayle taught French. They got married in 1965. They had three children: Paul, Laura, and David. Both of their sons became army captains. Their daughter became a manager for commercial properties.
Dale Kildee passed away on October 13, 2021. He was 92 years old.
Images for kids
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Dale Kildee in 1977, when he first joined the U.S. House of Representatives.
