John Dellenback
7th Director of the Peace Corps
In office
1975–1977
PresidentGerald Ford
Preceded byNicholas Craw
Succeeded byCarolyn R. Payton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oregon's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1975
Preceded byRobert B. Duncan
Succeeded byJames H. Weaver
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
1960–1966
Personal details
Born(1918-11-06)November 6, 1918
Chicago, Illinois
DiedDecember 7, 2002(2002-12-07) (aged 84)
Medford, Oregon
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Jane Dellenback
Alma materYale University
University of Michigan
Dellenback speaking in 1972

John Richard Dellenback (November 6, 1918 – December 7, 2002) was a Republican U.S. congressman from Oregon.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Dellenback's maternal grandparents were Norwegian and his paternal grandparents were each from Alsace-Lorraine and Germany.[1] After graduating from Yale University, he served in the United States Navy during World War II, then received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1949 and began teaching law at Oregon State College (later Oregon State University) that same year.

In 1960, Dellenback was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, and in 1966, was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing Oregon's 4th congressional district. While in Congress, Dellenback, a Republican, earned a reputation as an independent thinker. He wrote legislation to establish the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, worked to pass a bill that made pipeline permit-holders and shippers liable for oil spills,[2] and supported federal Title IX legislation for equal opportunity for boys and girls in athletics.[3]

Dellenback served four terms in the House and was defeated in the 1974 elections by liberal Democrat Jim Weaver. Dellenback's defeat is largely attributed to the anti-Republican mood of the electorate in the wake of the Watergate scandal.

After leaving Congress, Dellenback was appointed by President Gerald Ford as director of the Peace Corps, where he served from 1975 to 1977. From 1977 to 1988, Dellenback was president of the Christian College Coalition (now called the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.[2]

Dellenback died in Medford, Oregon of viral pneumonia in 2002.[3]

To date, he is the last Republican to serve as representative from Oregon’s 4th congressional district.

References

  1. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", FamilySearch, retrieved March 11, 2018
  2. 1 2 "Peace Corps Mourns Loss of Former Director John R. Dellenback" (Press release). Peace Corps. December 11, 2002. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
  3. 1 2 O'Neill, Patrick (December 8, 2002). "4-time Oregon congressman John Dellenback dies at 84". The Oregonian.
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