15 Facts About Clair Burgener

Clair Walter Burgener was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the US House of Representatives from 1973 to 1983.

Clair Burgener was born in Vernal, Utah, and grew up there and in Salt Lake City.

Clair Burgener served in the Pacific in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a navigator.

Clair Burgener attained second lieutenant and was awarded the Air Medal in 1945.

Clair Burgener was a realtor in the early 1950s with his brother.

In 1951 Burgener was on the stage of the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park, playing Elwood P Dowd in Harvey for a 33-day run.

Clair Burgener was elected to the San Diego City Council in 1953, serving until 1957.

Clair Burgener later recalled the office as "the job I enjoyed the least".

Clair Burgener later said his time in the State Capitol constituted his most productive and rewarding years.

Clair Burgener was most proud of state legislation he pushed through in 1963 that mandated classroom training for the intellectually disabled.

Clair Burgener was elected to five terms in the US House of Representatives, from 1973 to 1983.

Clair Burgener had a mostly conservative voting record, but often crossed party lines to work with Van Deerlin, a Democrat, to further San Diego interests.

Jerry Brown on down, disavowed Metzger and endorsed Clair Burgener, clinching his election to a fifth term.

Clair Burgener remained active in civic and political affairs after his retirement.

Clair Burgener did much work for, and headed various associations and committees helping intellectually disabled children, including the Clair Burgener Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled.