William Huston Natcher

William Huston Natcher (September 11, 1909 – March 29, 1994) was a Democratic congressman, serving in the United States House of Representatives from 1953 to 1994.

Early life

Natcher was born on September 11, 1909, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Natcher received a B.A. at Western Kentucky State College (now Western Kentucky University) in Bowling Green in 1930 and an LL.B. from the Ohio State University in Columbus in 1933. Natcher married in 1937, and had two daughters.^[1]

Political career

He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1953 from the 2nd District. He set a record of 18401 consecutive Congressional votes between 1954 and 1994. Natcher also refused to accept campaign contributions. He was also chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 1993 to 1994. His knowledge of House rules in debate led House Speaker Tip O'Neill to employ him as presiding officer during crucial debates.

On March 4, 1994, Natcher was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President William Clinton.^[2] He continued to serve in Congress until his death on March 29, 1994, in Bethesda, Maryland.

Legacy

Natcher was a champion of road projects within the state of Kentucky, especially the construction of a cable-stayed bridge between Kentucky and Indiana near Owensboro. Natcher helped get the majority of federal funding for the new bridge, which now carries U.S. Highway 231 across the Ohio River. The bridge was named in his honor before he died, although it was not completed until 2002. Also named in Natcher's honor in 1997 is the William H. Natcher Green River Parkway, a Kentucky state parkway (formerly a toll road) that runs between Bowling Green and Owensboro. During his congressional career, Natcher was a passionate believer in libraries in literacy. He fought for continued federal funding for library construction and initiatives. These programs continue today. The Kentucky Library Association presents the William H. Natcher Award annually for acts of philanthropy and support of libraries within the Commonwealth.

Washington, DC, Subway Funding

Natcher was a pro-highway Congressman, encouraging road projects, including in the District of Columbia. From 1970 to 1973, he repeatedly held up funding for the Washington Metro system, delaying its construction until 1973, when he lost a vote to block Metro funding.^[3] Natcher refused to allow federal funding for the Washington DC Metro until Arlington County officials agreed to have I-66 go though North Arlington neighborhoods.

References

1. ^ William H. Natcher papers — Georgetown University
2. ^ The American Presidency Project - Statement on the Death of Representative William H. Natcher - March 30, 1994"
3. ^ The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro - Zachary M. Schrag

External links

• William Huston Natcher at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress