Walt Horan | |
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c. 1958
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 5th district |
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In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1965 |
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Preceded by | Charles H. Leavy |
Succeeded by | Tom Foley |
Personal details | |
Born |
Walter Franklin Horan October 15, 1898 Wenatchee, Washington |
Died | December 19, 1966 Manila, Philippines |
(aged 68)
Resting place | Wenatchee City Cemetery Wenatchee, Washington |
Nationality | United States |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Helen L. "Sally" Campbell (1904–95) |
Children | 4 sons, 1 daughter |
Parents | Michael Horan Margaret A. Horan |
Residence | Wenatchee, Washington |
Alma mater | Washington State College, B.S. 1925 |
Occupation | Fruit grower |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1917–1919 |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Walter Franklin "Walt" Horan (October 15, 1898 – December 19, 1966) was an American politician, a congressman from eastern Washington for 22 years. First elected in 1942, he was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for eleven terms, from January 3, 1943 to January 3, 1965. Horan represented the Fifth Congressional District of Washington, which included Spokane and Wenatchee.
A fruit grower and packer, Horan was born and raised near Wenatchee, the younger son of Michael and Margaret A. (Rankin) Horan. His father Mike (1854–1919) was a pioneer fruit grower in the valley. Walt served in the U.S. Navy as a gunner's mate during World War I, and earned a bachelor's degree from Washington State College in Pullman in 1925. His wife, Helen L. "Sally" Campbell of Eureka, Montana, was a college classmate. Horan and his older brother John (1896–1954) operated one of the largest fruit ranches in the state. He ran for Congress in 1942, primarily to improve the representation of the agricultural sector.
Horan ran for Congress in 1940 from the 5th congressional district, but lost the general election to the two-term incumbent, Democrat Charles H. Leavy. Leavy resigned in August 1942 to become a federal judge on the U.S. District Court in western Washington, which left the seat vacant. In the Republican primary in September, Horan defeated Spokane attorney and civic leader Joe Albi, then easily defeated former two-term U.S. Senator and 1940 gubernatorial candidate Clarence Dill in the general election in November. Horan's victory was the first win by a Republican in the district in twenty years.