Vince Callahan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vince Callahan
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| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 34th district |
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| In office January 12, 1983 – January 9, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | George W. Jones John Watkins Robert E. Russell |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Vanderhye |
| Minority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates |
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| In office January 13, 1982 – December 3, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Jerry H. Geisler |
| Succeeded by | Andy Guest |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 49th district |
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| In office January 13, 1982 – January 12, 1983 Serving with Robert Andrews & Gwen Cody
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| Preceded by | Bobby Scott |
| Succeeded by | Warren G. Stambaugh |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 18th district |
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| In office January 10, 1968 – January 13, 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Larry Short |
| Succeeded by | Andy Guest |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Vincent Francis Callahan Jr.
October 30, 1931 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | September 20, 2014 (aged 82) Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Dorothy Budge Yvonne Weight |
| Alma mater | Georgetown University (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1950–1952 (USMC) 1959–1963 (USCG) |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
Vincent Francis Callahan Jr. (born October 30, 1931 – died September 20, 2014) was an American politician. He served for 40 years in the Virginia House of Delegates. This is a part of the state government that makes laws for Virginia. From 1968 to 2008, he represented the 34th district. This area includes places like McLean and Great Falls. When he retired, he was the Republican with the longest time serving in the Virginia General Assembly.
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Early Life and Service
Vincent Callahan was born in 1931 in Washington, D.C.. He joined the Marines and served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. After his military service, he went to Georgetown University. He earned a degree in Foreign Service in 1957. Later, he served four years as an officer in the Coast Guard.
Starting in Politics
Callahan first tried to become a politician in 1965. He ran for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia but did not win. In 1967, he ran for a seat in the House of Delegates and won. He also tried to get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 but was not successful.
Serving in the House of Delegates
Vincent Callahan was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1967. He became a member of the Appropriations Committee in 1972. This committee is important because it decides how the state's money is spent.
His Political Views
Callahan was known as a moderate Republican. This means his political views were often in the middle, not too extreme on either side. He was popular in his district.
He worked on different kinds of laws:
- He suggested a law to make sure people had to be at least 18 years old to face the death penalty.
- He also introduced a bill to increase the minimum wage in Virginia in 2007. The minimum wage is the lowest amount an employer can pay workers.
Callahan received an award from Equality Virginia. This group supports the rights of gay people. It was notable because they usually do not support Republicans.
Retirement from Politics
By 2007, Vincent Callahan was the only Republican state lawmaker inside the Capital Beltway. This made his seat a target for Democrats who wanted to win more power in Northern Virginia.
On March 6, 2007, Callahan announced that he would not run for re-election. He chose to retire after 40 years of service. He supported his former helper, Dave Hunt, to take his place. However, the Democratic candidate, Margaret Vanderhye, won the election in November.
Later Life and Passing
Vincent Callahan passed away on September 20, 2014, at the age of 82. He died from the West Nile virus.
