William Richard Ratchford

A Representative from Connecticut; born in Danbury, Fairfield County, Conn., May 24, 1934; graduated from Danbury High School, Danbury, Conn., 1952; B.A., University of Connecticut, Storrs, 1956; J.D., Georgetown Law School, Washington, D.C., 1959; served in the Connecticut National Guard, 1959-1965; admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1959 and commenced practice in Danbury, in 1960; served in the Connecticut house of representatives, 1962-1974 and was speaker, 1969-1973; unsuccessful candidate for election to the Ninety-fourth Congress in 1974; chairman, Governor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Nursing Homes, 1975-1976; commissioner on aging, 1977-1978; delegate, Connecticut State Democratic conventions, 1960-1974; delegate, Democratic National Conventions, 1972 and 1984; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-sixth and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1979-January 3, 1985); unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Ninety-ninth Congress; assistant administrator, General Services Administration, congressional affairs, 1993-2001; is a resident of Arlington, Va.