Charles H. Wilson
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Herbert Wilson (February 15, 1917 – July 21, 1984) was a 20th-century American banker, businessman and California Democratic politician from the Los Angeles area. For nine terms he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1963 to 1981.[1]
Charles H. Wilson | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 1971 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 31st district | |
| In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | District established |
| Succeeded by | Mervyn Dymally |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 66th district | |
| In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Gordon Hahn |
| Succeeded by | Joe Gonsalves |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Herbert Wilson February 15, 1917 Magna, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | July 21, 1984 (aged 67) Clinton, Maryland, U.S. |
| Resting place | Inglewood Park Cemetery, in Inglewood, California |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Hyun Ju Chang |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Early life
Wilson was born in Magna, Utah, and moved with his parents in 1922 to Los Angeles, California.[2] He attended public schools in Los Angeles and Inglewood, where he was later an employee at a bank, from 1935 to 1942.[2]
World War II
Wilson served as a staff sergeant in the United States Army from June 1942 to December 1945, where he gained experience overseas in the European Theater of Operations.
He returned home and in 1945 opened his own insurance agency in Los Angeles.[2]
Political career
Wilson served as a member of the California State Assembly from the 66th District from 1955 to 1963.
Congress
He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives, where he served from January 3, 1963, to January 3, 1981. On June 10, 1980, Wilson was reprimanded by the House for financial misconduct stemming from the Koreagate scandal. Wilson was defeated for renomination in 1980[2] by former Lieutenant Governor Mervyn M. Dymally; this loss was due in part due to the reprimand by his colleagues.
Wilson is, to date, the last white congressman to represent the 31st District.
Death
Wilson resided in Tantallon, Maryland, toward the end of his life, and died in Clinton, Maryland, on July 21, 1984. He is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, in Inglewood, California.[2]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Wilson (Incumbent) | 76,631 | 52.2 | ||
| Republican | Gordon Hahn | 70,154 | 47.8 | ||
| Total votes | 146,785 | 100.0 | |||
| Democratic win (new seat) | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Wilson (Incumbent) | 114,246 | 64.0 | |
| Republican | Norman G. Shanahan | 64,256 | 36.0 | |
| Total votes | 178,502 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Wilson (Incumbent) | 92,875 | 63.4 | |
| Republican | Norman G. Shanahan | 53,708 | 36.6 | |
| Total votes | 146,583 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Wilson (Incumbent) | 94,387 | 58.9 | |
| Republican | James R. Dunn | 62,711 | 39.1 | |
| American Independent | Stanley L. Schulte | 3,134 | 2.0 | |
| Total votes | 160,232 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Wilson (Incumbent) | 102,071 | 73.2 | |
| Republican | Fred L. Casmir | 37,416 | 26.8 | |
| Total votes | 139,487 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Wilson (Incumbent) | 85,954 | 52.3 | |
| Republican | Ben Valentine | 69,876 | 42.5 | |
| Peace and Freedom | Roberta Lynn Wood | 8,582 | 5.2 | |
| Total votes | 164,412 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Wilson (Incumbent) | 60,560 | 70.5 | |
| Republican | Norman A. Hodges | 23,039 | 26.8 | |
| Peace and Freedom | William C. Taylor | 2,349 | 2.7 | |
| Total votes | 85,948 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Wilson (Incumbent) | 83,155 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Wilson (Incumbent) | 55,667 | 67.8 | |
| Republican | Don Grimshaw | 26,490 | 32.2 | |
| Total votes | 82,157 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
See also
