William Huston Natcher
Encyclopedia
William Huston Natcher was a Democratic
congressman, serving in the United States House of Representatives
from 1953 to 1994.
. Natcher received a B.A. at Western Kentucky State College (now Western Kentucky University
) in Bowling Green in 1930 and an LL.B. from the Ohio State University
in Columbus
in 1933. Natcher married in 1937, and had two daughters.
to employ him as presiding officer during crucial debates.
On March 4, 1994, Natcher was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal
by President William Clinton
. He continued to serve in Congress until his death on March 29, 1994, in Bethesda, Maryland
.
between Kentucky and Indiana
near Owensboro
. Natcher helped get the majority of federal funding for the new bridge, which now carries U.S. Highway 231 across the Ohio River
. The bridge was named in his honor
before he died, although it was not completed until 2002. Also named in Natcher's honor in 1997 is the William H. Natcher Green River Parkway
, a Kentucky state parkway (formerly a toll road
) that runs between Bowling Green and Owensboro. During his congressional career, Natcher was a passionate believer in libraries in literacy. He fought for continued federal funding for library construction and initiatives. These programs continue today. The Kentucky Library Association presents the William H. Natcher Award annually for acts of philanthropy and support of libraries within the Commonwealth.
Natcher refused to allow federal funding for the Washington DC Metro until Arlington County officials agreed to have I-66 go though North Arlington neighborhoods.
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...
congressman, serving in 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...
from 1953 to 1994.
Early life
Natcher was born on September 11, 1909, in Bowling Green, KentuckyBowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
. Natcher received a B.A. at Western Kentucky State College (now Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
) in Bowling Green in 1930 and an LL.B. from the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
in 1933. Natcher married in 1937, and had two daughters.
Political career
He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1953 from the 2nd District. He set a record of 18401 consecutive Congressional votes between 1954 and 1994. Natcher also refused to accept campaign contributions. He was also chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 1993 to 1994. His knowledge of House rules in debate led House Speaker Tip O'NeillTip O'Neill
Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken liberal Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts in Massachusetts...
to employ him as presiding officer during crucial debates.
On March 4, 1994, Natcher was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal
Presidential Citizens Medal
The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second highest civilian award in the United States, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is awarded by the President of the United States, and may be given posthumously....
by President William Clinton
William Clinton
Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from...
. He continued to serve in Congress until his death on March 29, 1994, in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
.
Legacy
Natcher was a champion of road projects within the state of Kentucky, especially the construction of a cable-stayed bridgeCable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
between Kentucky and Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
near Owensboro
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
. Natcher helped get the majority of federal funding for the new bridge, which now carries U.S. Highway 231 across the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The bridge was named in his honor
William H. Natcher Bridge
The William H. Natcher Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that carries U.S. Highway 231 over the Ohio River. The bridge connects Owensboro, Kentucky to Rockport, Indiana and opened on October 21, 2002. It is named in honor of William Huston Natcher, a former United States Representative who served...
before he died, although it was not completed until 2002. Also named in Natcher's honor in 1997 is the William H. Natcher Green River Parkway
William H. Natcher Parkway
The Wiliam H. Natcher Green River Parkway is a limited-access freeway from Bowling Green, Kentucky to Owensboro, Kentucky. The Natcher is one of nine highways that are part of Kentucky's parkway system. Conceived as the "Owensboro-Bowling Green Parkway," it was instead named the Green River...
, a Kentucky state parkway (formerly a toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
) that runs between Bowling Green and Owensboro. During his congressional career, Natcher was a passionate believer in libraries in literacy. He fought for continued federal funding for library construction and initiatives. These programs continue today. The Kentucky Library Association presents the William H. Natcher Award annually for acts of philanthropy and support of libraries within the Commonwealth.
Natcher refused to allow federal funding for the Washington DC Metro until Arlington County officials agreed to have I-66 go though North Arlington neighborhoods.