Robert Henry Michel

A Representative from Illinois; born in Peoria, Peoria County, Ill., March 2, 1923; attended the public schools; served with the Thirty-ninth Infantry Regiment as a combat infantryman in England, France, Belgium, and Germany from February 10, 1943, to January 26, 1946; was wounded by machine gun fire; awarded two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, and four battle stars; B.S., Bradley University, Peoria, Ill., 1948; administrative assistant to Representative Harold Velde, 1949-1956; delegate, Republican National Conventions, 1964- 1992; permanent chairman, Republican National Conventions, 1984, 1988, and 1992; elected as a Republican to the Eighty-fifth and to the eighteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1957-January 3, 1995); not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Fourth Congress; minority whip (Ninety-fourth through Ninety-sixth Congresses); minority leader (Ninety-seventh through One Hundred Third Congresses). Mr. Michel’s wife of 54 years, the former Corinne Woodruff, whom he met when they sang in the choir at Bradley, died in 2003. His survivors include three sons, Scott, Bruce and Robin; a daughter, Laurie Michel; a sister, Betty Lou Riggenbach; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.