Clair A. Callan
Clair A. Callan | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska's 1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Ralph F. Beermann |
| Succeeded by | Robert Vernon Denney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clair Armstrong Callan March 29, 1920 Odell, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | May 28, 2005 (aged 85) Fairbury, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Clair Armstrong Callan (March 29, 1920 – May 28, 2005) was an American politician from Nebraska. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives for Nebraska's 1st congressional district for a single term from 1965 to 1967.
Early life, education, and career
Born in Odell, Nebraska, Callan graduated from Odell High School in 1938 and Nebraska State Teachers College (now Peru State College) in 1942.[1][2] His father, John Callan, served in Nebraska's first state legislative session.[3] He served as lieutenant in the United States Navy during World War II on a destroyer in the Pacific Theater.[1][2]
After the war, Callan returned to Odell to work for his family's hardware business, Callan Hardware and Implement.[2]
Political career
He served on the Odell Village Board, Odell School Board, Gage County School Reorganization Board, Gage County Fair Board, and the Gage County Extension Board. He was chairman of both the Governor's Committee on State Government Reorganization Board and the Nebraska Power Review Board. He also worked as a farmer.[1]
After losing his first race for Nebraska's 1st Congressional District in 1962 to incumbent Ralph Beermann, Callan was narrowly elected to the Eighty-ninth United States Congress in 1964, serving from January 3, 1965, to January 3, 1967.[1]
While in Congress, Callan helped develop legislation that led to the creations of Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[3]
He was defeated for reelection to the Ninetieth United States Congress in 1966 by Robert Vernon Denney and lost a rematch to him in 1968.[1]
Post-political career
In 1970, when Denney decided not so seek reelection, Callan ran as an independent when he failed to receive the Democratic nomination, winning 26% in a three way race and finishing ahead of the Democratic nominee. He was Deputy Administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration from 1967 to 1968 and president of the Allied Industries International, Inc. and Agri-Tech in Nashville, Tennessee.[1]
He died on May 28, 2005, in Fairbury, Nebraska.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Callan, Clair Armstrong". U.S. Congress. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Clair A. Callan". Beatrice Daily Sun. May 31, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c Finn, Jonnie Taté (May 30, 2005). "Former Democratic congressman dead at 85". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 1A. Retrieved July 2, 2025 – via NewsBank.
- "Callan, Clair Armstrong". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved February 28, 2006.
- "Callan, Clair Armstrong". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 28, 2006.
- This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress