Bob Mollohan
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Homer Mollohan (September 18, 1909 - August 3, 1999) was a former member of the United States House of Representatives
. A Democrat
from West Virginia
, Mollohan was succeeded in Congress by his son, Alan
.
Mollohan was born in Grantsville, West Virginia
. He attended Glenville State College
, graduating with an accounting degree. After finishing his education, Mollohan was hired by the city of Parkersburg, West Virginia
as a tax collector. In 1935, he was promoted to the rank of chief of the miscellaneous tax division. In 1939, the city reassigned Mollohan's duties, making him the local director of the Works Progress Administration
. In 1940, he briefly worked for the Census Bureau.
For eight years, beginning in 1941, Mollohan was directory of the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys at Pruntytown
. He left this position in 1949 to become a clerk to the U.S. Senate. Here, he made a name for himself in Washington, and he rode the momentum to an election victory that earned him a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st District of West Virginia in 1953. After just two terms in Congress, however, Mollohan decided to leave the District in order to run for West Virginia governor. He lost the election to Cecil Underwood. In 1958, Mollohan decided to run for his old seat, now held by future Republican
Governor Arch Moore, Jr.
, but was defeated. He temporarily retired from politics and set up an insurance agency.
In 1968, Mollohan made another run at Congress after Moore stepped down to run for governor. Despite his long absence, he was victorious. While in the House for his second go around, Mollohan served on the Armed Services Committee
and became famous for his ability to gain large sums for local 'pork barrel' projects. Mollohan retired from the House in 1983, after grooming his son, Alan
, as his replacement, who held the seat until his primary defeat in 2010.
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...
. A 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...
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...
, Mollohan was succeeded in Congress by his son, Alan
Alan Mollohan
Alan Bowlby Mollohan is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1983 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
.
Mollohan was born in Grantsville, West Virginia
Grantsville, West Virginia
Grantsville is a town in Calhoun County, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 565 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Calhoun County. The town was established along the Little Kanawha River in 1865 and named for Ulysses S. Grant...
. He attended Glenville State College
Glenville State College
Glenville State College is a public four-year college located in Glenville, a town in the rural north-central part of the U.S. state of West Virginia.-History:...
, graduating with an accounting degree. After finishing his education, Mollohan was hired by the city of Parkersburg, West Virginia
Parkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
as a tax collector. In 1935, he was promoted to the rank of chief of the miscellaneous tax division. In 1939, the city reassigned Mollohan's duties, making him the local director of the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
. In 1940, he briefly worked for the Census Bureau.
For eight years, beginning in 1941, Mollohan was directory of the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys at Pruntytown
Pruntytown, West Virginia
Pruntytown is an unincorporated town at the junction of the Northwestern Turnpike and U.S. Route 250 in Taylor County, West Virginia. It is the site of the Pruntytown Correctional Center, formerly known as the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys.- External links :**...
. He left this position in 1949 to become a clerk to the U.S. Senate. Here, he made a name for himself in Washington, and he rode the momentum to an election victory that earned him a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st District of West Virginia in 1953. After just two terms in Congress, however, Mollohan decided to leave the District in order to run for West Virginia governor. He lost the election to Cecil Underwood. In 1958, Mollohan decided to run for his old seat, now held by future 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...
Governor Arch Moore, Jr.
Arch A. Moore, Jr.
Arch Alfred Moore, Jr. was the 28th and 30th Governor of West Virginia from 1969 until 1977 and from 1985 until 1989. He was a Congressman from 1957 until entering the governor's office. He is a member of the United States Republican Party. He ran for reelection in 1988, but was defeated by...
, but was defeated. He temporarily retired from politics and set up an insurance agency.
In 1968, Mollohan made another run at Congress after Moore stepped down to run for governor. Despite his long absence, he was victorious. While in the House for his second go around, Mollohan served on the Armed Services Committee
United States House Committee on Armed Services
thumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
and became famous for his ability to gain large sums for local 'pork barrel' projects. Mollohan retired from the House in 1983, after grooming his son, Alan
Alan Mollohan
Alan Bowlby Mollohan is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1983 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, as his replacement, who held the seat until his primary defeat in 2010.