| Harley Orrin Staggers | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia's 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Melvin C. Snyder |
| Succeeded by | Cleve Benedict |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 3, 1907 Keyser, West Virginia |
| Died | August 20, 1991 (aged 84) Cumberland, Maryland |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Casey Staggers |
| Children | Margaret Anne Staggers Mary Kaye Staggers Frances Susan Tasker Elizabeth Ellen Shank Harley O. Staggers, Jr. Daniel Staggers |
| Alma mater | Emory and Henry College |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Religion | Methodist |
Harley Orrin Staggers, Sr. (August 3, 1907 – August 20, 1991) was a Democratic U.S. politician.
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He was born in Keyser, Mineral County, West Virginia.
Staggers graduated from Emory and Henry College in 1931 and did graduate work at Duke University.
Staggers served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was U.S. Representative from West Virginia (2nd District) from 1949–1981, and served as Chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. He was delegate to the Democratic National Convention from West Virginia in 1960. He died on August 20, 1991.
On June 10, 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Nixon Administration could not block the New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers. The next month, on July 12, 1971, Staggers ordered CBS News to hand over film not used in the documentary, Selling of the Pentagon.
According to Staggers this was the only way to know if the documentary had been accurately edited. The president of CBS News, Frank Stanton, said he would go to jail before complying with Staggers' subpoenas. The House supported Stanton and Staggers was forced to abandon his ultimatum.
On May 11, 1973 the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce which was chaired by Staggers issued a press release [1] summarizing the results of an investigation that determined illegal drug use existed in all level of sports. The investigation also described the degree of use, including steroids and amphetamines, as alarming.
Nationally, his name is perhaps best known as for the federal Staggers Act of 1980, which allowed for enormous deregulation of the railroads, such as allowing carriers to enter into contracts with shippers to set prices and services, without Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) approval. The Staggers Act is widely credited with freeing the industry from stagnation under an outdated regulatory structure, allowing it more freedom to compete with other modes of freight transportation such as trucking and air transport. Under the provisions of the Staggers Act, the former regulatory model which had contributed extensively to the massive financial failure of the Penn Central Railroad in the 1970s (which forced the creation of the money-losing Conrail) was largely rendered impotent. With new market freedoms, the Staggers Act led the railroad industry into a period of much greater stability and profitability, and in many cases, defied opponents predictions of higher shipping costs. Perhaps even to the amazement of supporters of the Staggers Act, Conrail became a profitable company, repaid its massive federal debts, and was soon a highly-desired acquisition target by other large railroad companies, with its lines eventually being sold at a premium to a combination of CSX Corporation and Norfolk Southern interests, preserving competition even as this was accomplished.
Representative Staggers was also a strong supporter of the federally-created passenger railroad Amtrak, which did not achieve the potential goal of self-sufficiency. However, creation of Amtrak freed the freight railroad industry from a massive burden of passenger service related-losses and helped preserve a national rail passenger system for the United States, providing some alternatives to an aging Interstate Highway System.
The town and surviving family of Staggers honored him by naming the section of Water Street that runs beside New Creek, in front of the middle school and vocational center, and in front of the bridge to his residence, Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Drive.
Staggers' daughter, Mary Kaye Staggers, is a professor at Potomac State College of West Virginia University. His sons, Harley O. Staggers, Jr. and Daniel Staggers practice law there. Harley, Jr. was also a Congressman from West Virginia before he lost his seat due to redistricting. Another daughter, Margaret Anne "Peggy" Staggers, from Beckley, West Virginia, is a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Daughter Susan owned and managed two successful local businesses in Keyser until her and her husband's recent retirement. His daughter Ellen resides in Morgantown.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Melvin C. Snyder |
U.S. Representative of West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District 1949–1981 |
Succeeded by Cleve Benedict |