Clair Burgener
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Sinclair Walter "Clair" Burgener (December 5, 1921– September 9, 2006) was an American Republican politician and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
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[edit] Early life
Clair Burgener was born in Vernal, Utah in 1921 and grew up there and in Salt Lake City, Utah and graduated. He served in the Pacific in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a navigator. He attained second lieutenant and was awared the Air Medal in 1945. Later, he was recalled for Air Force service during the Korean War.
Burgener graduated from San Diego State College with a BA in liberal arts. He was a realtor in the early 1950s with his brother. In 1951 Burgener was on the stage of the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park playing Elwood P. Dowd in "Harvey" for a 33-day run.
[edit] Political life
At a cocktail party one evening, as related by Lionel Van Deerlin, an oilman from Texas said "I like the cut of your jib, young fella," the man began. "If you do go into politics, I'd like to help. Here's a check for five thousand dollars. Cash it whenever you decide to run." A few months later Burgener ran for a city council vacency, but returned the check writing "Thank you very much, but I feel it would be improper to accept so large an amount from a single out-of-state contributor."
Burgener was elected to the San Diego City Council in 1953, serving until 1957. On the city council he pushed for the development of Mission Bay Park. Burgener later recalled the office as "the job I enjoyed the least".
Burgener was then elected to the California State Assembly 1962–1966, California State Senate, 1967–1972. Burgener later said his time in the State Capitol was his most productive and rewarding years. He was most proud of state legislation he pushed through in 1963 that mandated classroom training for the mentally retarded.
Burgener was elected to five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1973 to 1983. He had a mostly conservative voting record, but often crossed party lines to work with Van Deerlin, a Democrat to further San Diego interests.
In 1980, white supremacist Tom Metzger won the Democratic primary in Burgener's district. The Democrats disavowed Metzger and endorsed Burgener, clinching his election to a fifth term. Burgener dug up and publicized Metzger's frequent, ill-conceived statements and won the election with 82% of the vote. In 1982 he did not seek reelection and retired.
[edit] Post-political life
Burgener remained active in civic and political affairs after his retirement. He was a Regent of the University of California during 1988–1997. After Burgener's son Rod was diagnosed as developmentally disabled, Burgener became a champion of mentally-disabled children. He has done much work for, and has headed various associations and committees helping retarded children, including the Clair Burgener Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled.
After his retirement, Congressman Burgener lived at Rancho Santa Fe, California with his wife Marvia when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Burgener died 2006 in Encinitas, California. He and his wife were survived by two sons, John and Greg.
[edit] Legacy
Named for Burgener are the Clair Burgener Academy, Oceanside, California, and The Clair Burgener Clinical Research Diagnostic Unit, University of California, San Diego.
[edit] See also
- Burgener, Sinclair W. "On Avoiding an Agricultural Slum” Can You Afford This House? (1978) David Treen ed. ISBN 0-916054-72-1
- Burgener, Sinclair W. "Taming the Welfare Problem," The Case Against the Reckless Congress (1976), Marjorie Holt ed. ISBN 0-916054-08-X
- Clair Burgener Oral History, California State Archives, Sacramento, and Bancroft Library (1990)
- Clair Burgener Papers, Brigham Young University
- "Clair Burgener, a gem of a man", The San Diego Union-Tribune, December 10, 2003, p. B-7 (op-ed) by Lionel Van Deerlin. Includes caricature of Burgener.
- "Republican recalled as gentleman legislator" (obituary) by Philip J. LaVelle, SignOnSanDiego.com, 2006-09-10
[edit] External link
This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
| Preceded by: District created |
United States Representative for the 43rd Congressional District of California 1973–1983 (42nd District 1973-75) |
Succeeded by: Ron Packard |
