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Philip Edward Ruppe (born September 29, 1926) is an American retired politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1967 to 1979 before running, unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 1982. He is a Korean War veteran, having served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy. After leaving the U.S. House, Ruppe became active in business before running for election, without success, to the 103rd Congress.
Philip Edward Ruppe | |
|---|---|
 Ruppe in 1975 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 11th district | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Raymond F. Clevenger |
| Succeeded by | Bob Davis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 29, 1926 Laurium, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Central Michigan University University of Michigan |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
Biography
editRuppe was born in the town of Laurium, Michigan, and graduated from high school in 1944. He is of Slovak and Slovenian descent. He attended the V-12 Navy College Training Program at Central Michigan University and University of Michigan, 1944–1946 and graduated from Yale University in 1948. He served in United States Navy during the Korean War as a lieutenant. He then served as director of Houghton National Bank, Commercial National Bank of L’Anse and R.L. Polk and Co.
Political activity
editIn 1966, Ruppe was the Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 11th congressional district. He defeated incumbent Democratic Raymond F. Clevenger, one of the "Five Fluke Freshmen", to be elected to the 90th Congress and was subsequently re-elected to the next five Congresses, serving from January 3, 1967, to January 3, 1979. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1978 to the 96th Congress. Republican Bob Davis from St. Ignace won election succeeding him in the district.
Post-political career and personal life
editAfter leaving Congress, Ruppe was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate in 1982 against Donald Riegle. He served as president of Woodlak Company to 1986.
After a decade out of politics, Ruppe sought to retake his old district, now renumbered as the 1st District. He lost to former state representative Bart Stupak.
His wife, Loret Miller Ruppe, who he married in 1957, was a Presidential Elector for Michigan in 1980, Director of the Peace Corps from 1981 to 1989, and U.S. Ambassador to Norway from 1989 to 1993. She died in 1996; they had five children.
Ruppe is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Rotary International and currently resides in Bethesda, Maryland.
References
edit- United States Congress. "Philip Ruppe (id: R000512)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- The Political Graveyard