Ron Marlenee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Marlenee
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana's 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | John Melcher |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ronald Charles Marlenee
August 8, 1935 Scobey, Montana, U.S. |
| Died | April 26, 2020 (aged 84) Bozeman, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Cynthia "Cindy" Marlenee (née Tiemann) |
| Children | Sheila Wolff, Casey Marlenee, Allison Helland |
| Residences | Bozeman, Montana |
| Alma mater | Montana State University, University of Montana, Reisch School of Auctioneering |
| Occupation | Rancher, Businessman, United States Congressman |
Ronald Charles Marlenee (born August 8, 1935 – died April 26, 2020) was a Republican politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives for the state of Montana. He was a U.S. Representative from January 3, 1977, to January 3, 1993.
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Early Life and Education
Ron Marlenee was born in Scobey, Montana, on August 8, 1935. His parents were Charles and Margaret Marlenee. He had two brothers, Bob and Lanney.
He went to public schools in Daniels County. Later, he studied at Montana State University in Bozeman. He also attended the University of Montana in Missoula. He even went to the Reisch School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa.
Political Career
Before becoming a politician, Ron Marlenee worked as an auctioneer, farmer, and rancher. He was very active in the Republican Party. He held several important roles within the party in Daniels County.
Serving in Congress
From 1975 to 1976, he was on the executive board of the Montana Republican Committee. In 1976, he was elected to the U.S. Congress. He was reelected seven times, serving from January 3, 1977, to January 3, 1993.
While in Congress, he earned the nickname "Dr. No." This was because he often voted against government bills. He believed the government should be less involved in people's lives. He worked on important groups in Congress, like the House Interior and Agricultural committees.
Some environmental groups were not happy with his voting record. In 1992, one group even named him one of Congress's "Dirty Dozen."
End of Congressional Service
After the 1990 Census, Montana's population growth slowed down. This meant the state lost one of its congressional districts. Ron Marlenee's district was removed. He then ran against Pat Williams for the state's single, larger district. It was a very close election, and Williams won.
Ron Marlenee was the longest-serving Republican representative from Montana in the House of Representatives. After the 1992 election, he left politics and did not run for office again.
Political Beliefs
Ron Marlenee was known as a conservative Republican. This means he believed in traditional values and limited government.
Key Stances
- He supported small businesses.
- He wanted less government involvement.
- He strongly supported Second Amendment rights, which protect the right to own guns.
- He pushed for a balanced government budget.
- He also fought against federal control over state lands.
- He focused on issues important to family farms and small business owners.
Marlenee believed federal lands should be used for many things. This included drilling for oil, mining, and outdoor recreation. He often disagreed with environmentalists. He even called some conservationists "fern feelers and prairie fairies."
Personal Life
Ron Marlenee was a member of the Freemasons and the Shriners. He was married twice. His first wife was Carmen Willard. They had five children together: David, Mike, Sheila, Casey, and Allison. In 1978, he married his second wife, Cindy Tiemann.
Later Years
After leaving Congress, Ron Marlenee lived in Bozeman, Montana with his wife Cindy and son Casey. He stayed involved in Montana politics. For many years, he helped with fundraising and other events for Republican candidates.
He also became a lobbyist, which means he worked to influence lawmakers for different groups. He was the director of legislative affairs for the Safari Club International, a hunting club. He also helped start the Western Tradition Partnership (now called the American Tradition Partnership). This group works on issues in Montana like water, forest management, and energy. The group later faced questions about how it handled campaign money.
Ron Marlenee also helped create a memorial for veterans in Miles City, Montana. He passed away in Bozeman on April 26, 2020.
