Melvin C. Snyder
Encyclopedia
Melvin Claude Snyder was an attorney
and a Republican
politician
who served as a United States Representative from West Virginia
. He was born in Albright
, Preston County, West Virginia
on October 29, 1898. He was a member of the Eightieth Congress.
He died August 5, 1972.
He attended the public schools. During the First World War, he enlisted in the United States Army
and served as a private in 1918. In 1923 he graduated from the West Virginia University
Law School at Morgantown, West Virginia
and was admitted to the bar
the same year. He began his legal practice in Kingwood, West Virginia
. He became the mayor
of Kingwood in 1926. He served as prosecuting attorney for Preston County from 1929 to 1944.
He returned to the United States Army
and served from January 6, 1941 until his discharge as a colonel
on January 30, 1946 . He then served as the director of Surplus Property for Division of Territories and Island Possessions, Department of Interior
. In 1946 he was elected to the House. His subsequent election campaigns were unsuccessful in 1948 and 1950.
After leaving the House, he served as a judge, eighteenth judicial circuit court
, West Virginia from January 1, 1953 to October 1, 1971. He was a member of the West Virginia Judicial Council and was a president of the West Virginia Judicial Association. He died in Kingwood August 5, 1972 and was buried in Maplewood Cemetery.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and 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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as a United States Representative from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He was born in Albright
Albright, West Virginia
Albright is a town in Preston County, West Virginia, United States, along the Cheat River. The population was 247 at the 2000 census.-History:Located near Albright is the Virginia Furnace, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999....
, Preston County, West Virginia
Preston County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,334 people, 11,544 households, and 8,357 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,444 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
on October 29, 1898. He was a member of the Eightieth Congress.
80th United States Congress
The Eightieth 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, 1947 to January 3, 1949, during the third and fourth...
He died August 5, 1972.
He attended the public schools. During the First World War, he enlisted 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...
and served as a private in 1918. In 1923 he graduated from the West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
Law School at Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
the same year. He began his legal practice in Kingwood, West Virginia
Kingwood, West Virginia
Kingwood is a town in and the county seat of Preston County, West Virginia, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh DMA. Kingwood was founded in 1815...
. He became the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Kingwood in 1926. He served as prosecuting attorney for Preston County from 1929 to 1944.
He returned to 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...
and served from January 6, 1941 until his discharge as a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
on January 30, 1946 . He then served as the director of Surplus Property for Division of Territories and Island Possessions, Department of Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
. In 1946 he was elected to the House. His subsequent election campaigns were unsuccessful in 1948 and 1950.
After leaving the House, he served as a judge, eighteenth judicial circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
, West Virginia from January 1, 1953 to October 1, 1971. He was a member of the West Virginia Judicial Council and was a president of the West Virginia Judicial Association. He died in Kingwood August 5, 1972 and was buried in Maplewood Cemetery.
See also
- United States Congressional Delegations from West Virginia
Source
- SNYDER, Melvin Claude Online. September 9, 2007.