Carl Pursell
Encyclopedia
Carl Duane Pursell was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Pursell was born in Imlay City, Michigan
and graduated from Plymouth High School
, Plymouth, Michigan
, in 1951. He worked in his father's business and served in the United States Army
from 1957 to 1959. In 1957 and 1961, he earned degrees from Eastern Michigan University
, where he was also a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon
fraternity. He received an alumnus achievement award in 1974 and a distinguished alumnus award in 1990.
In 1969, Pursell ran successfully for a seat as Wayne County
Commissioner. He left this position in 1971, after being elected from the 14th District to the Michigan Senate
, serving from 1971 to 1977. Pursell was elected as a Republican from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
to the United States House of Representatives
. He served in the 95th Congress
and to the seven succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1977 until his retiring from Congress on January 3, 1993. A moderate, he served as ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.
Pursell served as regent of Eastern Michigan University
from 1993 to 1999.
Pursell died at his home on June 11, 2009 at the age of 76; he is survived by his wife and his three children.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Pursell was born in Imlay City, Michigan
Imlay City, Michigan
Imlay City is a city in Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,869 at the 2000 census and 3,597 at the 2010 census.-Education:Imlay City has five public schools and one private school...
and graduated from Plymouth High School
Plymouth-Canton Educational Park
The Plymouth-Canton Educational Park encompasses three public secondary schools—Salem High School, Canton High School, and Plymouth High School—in Canton Township, Michigan, United States. PCEP is located on a campus in Wayne County...
, Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
, in 1951. He worked in his father's business and served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1957 to 1959. In 1957 and 1961, he earned degrees from Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
, where he was also a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
fraternity. He received an alumnus achievement award in 1974 and a distinguished alumnus award in 1990.
In 1969, Pursell ran successfully for a seat as Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
Commissioner. He left this position in 1971, after being elected from the 14th District to the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
, serving from 1971 to 1977. Pursell was elected as a Republican from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, and the northern portion of Allegan and the northwest portion of Kent. The 2nd district has...
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...
. He served in the 95th Congress
95th United States Congress
The Ninety-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1979, during the first two years...
and to the seven succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1977 until his retiring from Congress on January 3, 1993. A moderate, he served as ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.
Pursell served as regent of Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
from 1993 to 1999.
Pursell died at his home on June 11, 2009 at the age of 76; he is survived by his wife and his three children.