Alvin O'Konski
Encyclopedia
Alvin Edward O'Konski was a United States Representative from Wisconsin
. Born on a farm near Kewaunee
, he attended the local public schools and the University of Iowa
. He graduated from State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
in 1927 and from the University of Wisconsin (now University of Wisconsin–Madison
) in 1932. He was a high school teacher in Omro
and Oconto
from 1926 to 1929, a member of the faculty of Oregon State College at Corvallis
from 1929 to 1931, and a faculty member at the University of Detroit from 1936 to 1938. He was superintendent
of schools in Pulaski, Wisconsin
from 1932 to 1935 and an instructor at a junior college in Coleraine, Minnesota
in 1936. He was an educator, journalist, lecturer, editor and publisher at Hurley, Wisconsin
from 1940 to 1942.
O'Konski was elected to the United States House of Representatives
in 1942 as a Republican
, and was re-elected 14 times. He lost a bid for the Republican senatorial nomination to succeed Joseph McCarthy
in 1957.
O'Konski represented a district that included much of the northwestern part of the state, including Rhinelander
and Superior
. However, after the 1970 census, Wisconsin lost a district, and most of O'Konski's territory was merged with the district of two-term Democrat
Dave Obey
. O'Konski retained only about 40 percent of his former territory, a disadvantage he was unable to overcome despite his seniority. Even though Richard Nixon
carried most of the district in the 1972 election, O'Konski was soundly defeated.
While still serving in Congress, O'Konski founded WAEO-TV, the NBC
affiliate for most of north-central Wisconsin. He sold the station in 1976; it is now WJFW-TV
.
O'Konski lived in Rhinelander until his death in 1987. He is buried at St. Hedwig's Cemetery, a rural church cemetery west of Kewaunee.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Born on a farm near Kewaunee
Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Kewaunee is a city in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,806 at the 2000 census. Located on the northwestern shore of Lake Michigan, the city is the county seat of Kewaunee County....
, he attended the local public schools and the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. He graduated from State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
in 1927 and from the University of Wisconsin (now University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
) in 1932. He was a high school teacher in Omro
Omro, Wisconsin
Omro is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,177 at the 2000 census. The city is located along the Fox River, approximately 10 miles west of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.-1853 description:OMRO, P...
and Oconto
Oconto, Wisconsin
Oconto is a city in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,708 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located partially within the town of Oconto.-History:...
from 1926 to 1929, a member of the faculty of Oregon State College at Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
from 1929 to 1931, and a faculty member at the University of Detroit from 1936 to 1938. He was superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of schools in Pulaski, Wisconsin
Pulaski, Wisconsin
Pulaski is a village in Brown, Oconto, and Shawano Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,060 at the 2000 census.The Brown and Oconto County portions of Pulaski are part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
from 1932 to 1935 and an instructor at a junior college in Coleraine, Minnesota
Coleraine, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,110 people, 443 households, and 317 families residing in the city. The population density was 178.5 people per square mile . There were 462 housing units at an average density of 74.3 per square mile...
in 1936. He was an educator, journalist, lecturer, editor and publisher at Hurley, Wisconsin
Hurley, Wisconsin
Hurley is a city in and the county seat of Iron County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,818 at the 2000 census. It is directly across the Montreal River from Ironwood, Michigan.-History:...
from 1940 to 1942.
O'Konski was elected to 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...
in 1942 as a 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...
, and was re-elected 14 times. He lost a bid for the Republican senatorial nomination to succeed Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
in 1957.
O'Konski represented a district that included much of the northwestern part of the state, including Rhinelander
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Rhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 7,735 at the 2000 census.-Claim to fame:...
and Superior
Superior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
. However, after the 1970 census, Wisconsin lost a district, and most of O'Konski's territory was merged with the district of two-term Democrat
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...
Dave Obey
Dave Obey
David Ross "Dave" Obey is the former U.S. Representative for , serving 21 consecutive terms from 1969 until 2011. The district includes much of the northwestern portion of the state, including Wausau and Superior...
. O'Konski retained only about 40 percent of his former territory, a disadvantage he was unable to overcome despite his seniority. Even though Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
carried most of the district in the 1972 election, O'Konski was soundly defeated.
While still serving in Congress, O'Konski founded WAEO-TV, the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate for most of north-central Wisconsin. He sold the station in 1976; it is now WJFW-TV
WJFW-TV
WJFW-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for North Central Wisconsin's Northern Highland area licensed to Rhinelander. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 16 from a transmitter east of the city in unincorporated Oneida County. The station can also be seen on...
.
O'Konski lived in Rhinelander until his death in 1987. He is buried at St. Hedwig's Cemetery, a rural church cemetery west of Kewaunee.