A. S. Mike Monroney
Encyclopedia
Almer Stillwell "Mike" Monroney (March 2, 1902 February 13, 1980) was a Democratic Party
politician
from Oklahoma
.
He represented Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives
from 1939 until 1951 and represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate
from 1951 until 1969.
Monroney graduated from the University of Oklahoma
in 1924, then served as a reporter for the Oklahoma News from 1924 to 1928. In 1938 he ran for Congress as a Democrat and was elected, then reelected in the five next elections, up to 1951.
As a Representative, he co-authored the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946. As a Senator, he sponsored the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958
. The law required that all new automobiles carry a sticker on a window containing important information about the vehicle. That sticker is commonly known as a "Monroney sticker
". After the war there were many more Americans that wanted cars than there were cars and he saw that there needed a consumer protection for the returning veterans to "get mobile" and the country to get on with it.
As chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, Monroney wrote and sponsored the Federal Aviation Act of 1958
that created the Federal Aviation Administration
, to improve aviation safety and achieve better coordination of air traffic in the aftermath of several deadly air crashes. All private planes in the United States are registered at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
in Oklahoma City. Air traffic controllers are also trained there. As a result of Monroney's contributions to aviation, he was known as "Mr. Aviation" in the Senate.
In 1958, Monroney was the supporter of a soft loan fund in the World Bank
which later became the International Development Association
. In 1961, he was awarded the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy
by the National Aeronautics Association and in 1964 he received the first Tony Jannus Award
for his distinguished contributions to the commercial aviation industry.
He was voted by the Senate pages
as "the nicest Senator." He lost reelection after thirty years of senatorial service in 1968 to former Republican
Governor
Henry Bellmon
, who ran on the Richard M. Nixon presidential ticket.
Senator Monroney was considered as a running mate for Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson in 1952
, but was rejected for his lack of national recognition. He was married to Mary Ellen Mellon of the Mellon banking family and had one son, Michael Monroney, four grandchildren, Erin, Alice, Michael and Susanna Monroney Quinn, and four great-grandchildren, Meghan and Mitchell Monroney and Jocelyn Luddy (daughter of Susanna Monroney Quinn and stepdaughter of former White House Counsel, Jack Quinn).
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
He represented Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
Oklahoma's Fifth Congressional District is a U.S. congressional district in Oklahoma, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It borders all of the other congressional districts in the state except the state's first congressional district...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1939 until 1951 and represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 1951 until 1969.
Monroney graduated from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in 1924, then served as a reporter for the Oklahoma News from 1924 to 1928. In 1938 he ran for Congress as a Democrat and was elected, then reelected in the five next elections, up to 1951.
As a Representative, he co-authored the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946. As a Senator, he sponsored the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958
Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958
The Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958 was passed in June of 1958 by Congress. It was sponsored by Oklahoma Senator Almer Stillwell "Mike" Monroney, after whom the resulting "Monroney sticker" was named....
. The law required that all new automobiles carry a sticker on a window containing important information about the vehicle. That sticker is commonly known as a "Monroney sticker
Monroney sticker
The Monroney sticker or window sticker is a label required in the United States to be displayed in all new automobiles and includes the listing of certain official information about the car. Since the mid-seventies the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides fuel economy metrics in the label...
". After the war there were many more Americans that wanted cars than there were cars and he saw that there needed a consumer protection for the returning veterans to "get mobile" and the country to get on with it.
As chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, Monroney wrote and sponsored the Federal Aviation Act of 1958
Federal Aviation Act of 1958
The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 was an act of the United States Congress, , that created the Federal Aviation Agency and abolished its predecessor, the Civil Aeronautics Administration...
that created the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, to improve aviation safety and achieve better coordination of air traffic in the aftermath of several deadly air crashes. All private planes in the United States are registered at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center is administered as one of the FAA Regional Offices.Located in Oklahoma City on the grounds of Will Rogers Airport, with around 5,600 direct federal employees the Aeronautical Center is one of the Department of Transportation's largest facilities outside the...
in Oklahoma City. Air traffic controllers are also trained there. As a result of Monroney's contributions to aviation, he was known as "Mr. Aviation" in the Senate.
In 1958, Monroney was the supporter of a soft loan fund in the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
which later became the International Development Association
International Development Association
The International Development Association , is the part of the World Bank that helps the world’s poorest countries. It complements the World Bank's other lending arm — the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development — which serves middle-income countries with capital investment and...
. In 1961, he was awarded the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy
Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy
Winners of the National Aeronautic Association's Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy:*2009 - Steven Udvar-Hazy*2008 - Norman R. Augustine*2007 - Eugene Cernan*2006 - Norman Mineta*2005 - Edward C. Aldridge Jr.*2004 - Robert Crandall*2003 - John Glenn...
by the National Aeronautics Association and in 1964 he received the first Tony Jannus Award
Tony Jannus Award
The Tony Jannus Award recognizes outstanding individual achievement in scheduled commercial aviation by airline executives, inventors and manufacturers, and government leaders. The award is conferred annually by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society and was first bestowed in 1964 in Tampa,...
for his distinguished contributions to the commercial aviation industry.
He was voted by the Senate pages
United States Senate Page
A United States Senate Page is a non-partisan federal employee serving the United States Senate in Washington, DC. Despite the non-partisan affiliation, Pages are typically divided to serve the party that appointed them.-Selection:In order to become a US Senate Page, one must first be nominated...
as "the nicest Senator." He lost reelection after thirty years of senatorial service in 1968 to former Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Governor
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Henry Bellmon
Henry Bellmon
Henry Louis "Harry" Bellmon was an American Republican politician from Oklahoma. He was a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, the 18th and 23rd Governor of Oklahoma , and a two-term United States Senator.-Service in World War II:Bellmon was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and graduated from Billings...
, who ran on the Richard M. Nixon presidential ticket.
Senator Monroney was considered as a running mate for Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson in 1952
United States presidential election, 1952
The United States presidential election of 1952 took place in an era when Cold War tension between the United States and the Soviet Union was escalating rapidly. In the United States Senate, Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin had become a national figure after chairing congressional...
, but was rejected for his lack of national recognition. He was married to Mary Ellen Mellon of the Mellon banking family and had one son, Michael Monroney, four grandchildren, Erin, Alice, Michael and Susanna Monroney Quinn, and four great-grandchildren, Meghan and Mitchell Monroney and Jocelyn Luddy (daughter of Susanna Monroney Quinn and stepdaughter of former White House Counsel, Jack Quinn).