Olin E. Teague

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Olin E. Teague (7 August 1971)
Olin E. Teague (7 August 1971)

Olin Earl (Tiger) Teague (b. April 6, 1910 Woodward, Oklahoma, d. January 23, 1981 Bethesda, Maryland) was a notable World War II veteran and Congressional representative for Texas's 6th congressional district for 32 years, from 1946 to 1978.

Teague is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Born in Oklahoma and raised in Mena, Arkansas, Teague graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University) in 1932. He joined the Army in 1940 as a Lieutenant and was discharged in 1946 as a Colonel. He participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, and became the 2nd most decorated combat veteran of World War II, being wounded 6 times. The nickname "Tiger" came from his play on the football field while in high school.

[edit] Congressional career

Representative Olin Teague and other members of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics visit the Marshall Space Flight Center on March 9, 1962 to gather first-hand information of the nation's space exploration program.
Representative Olin Teague and other members of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics visit the Marshall Space Flight Center on March 9, 1962 to gather first-hand information of the nation's space exploration program.

While in Congress, he was the veteran's champion, authoring more veteran's legislation than any congressman before him.[1] He was instrumental in improving benefits for servicemen's survivors. In 1956, he helped overhaul the survivor's benefits, with the creation of the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). He was also chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, and chairman of the Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration (1973-1979). Before 1973, he also chaired the Manned Space Flight Subcommittee and in that capacity oversaw NASA's efforts to place a man on the moon.[2] In 1976, Teague was pivotal in establishing the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Wernher von Braun shows Congressman Olin Teague of Texas an H1 engine for the Saturn I launch vehicle during a visit to the Marshall Space Flight Center on March 9, 1962.
Wernher von Braun shows Congressman Olin Teague of Texas an H1 engine for the Saturn I launch vehicle during a visit to the Marshall Space Flight Center on March 9, 1962.

[edit] Legacy

The Olin E. Teague Veterans Center, a VA hospital and health center in Temple, Texas, was named for him. The VA also presents the annual Olin E. Teague Award for contributions to improving the quality of life of disabled veterans. Also named for him were the Olin E. Teague Research Center at Texas A&M, a space research facility, and the Olin E. Teague Visitor Center at the Johnson Space Center.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ R. Jim Nicholson (12 October 2005). Secretary Nicholson Speech: Remarks by The Honorable R. Jim Nicholson Secretary of Veterans Affairs: 25th Annual Olin E. Teague Award. United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
  2. ^ A History of the Committee on Science. United States House Committee on Science. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Luther A. Johnson		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 6th congressional district
1946–1978		 Succeeded by
Phil Gramm