18 Facts About Harold Volkmer

Harold Lee Volkmer was an American politician from Missouri.

Harold Volkmer was a Democrat who served 20 years in the United States House of Representatives.

Harold Volkmer later received his law degree from the University of Missouri, and passed the bar exam even before graduating.

Harold Volkmer married the former Shirley Ruth Braskett in 1955, and they became the parents of two sons and a daughter.

Harold Volkmer served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957.

Harold Volkmer was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Marion County in 1960, and then State Representative in 1966.

Harold Volkmer led the way on a major reorganization of the executive branch of state government.

Harold Volkmer understood the issue of reorganization better than anybody in the Legislature.

In Congress, Harold Volkmer represented a mostly rural 21-county area in northeastern Missouri.

Harold Volkmer served on the House Agriculture Committee and helped shape five major farm bills.

Harold Volkmer served for several of his early terms on the House Judiciary Committee.

Harold Volkmer had a reputation as a conservative Democrat due to his opposition to gun control legislation, his opposition to abortion, and his opposition to gay rights.

Harold Volkmer supported the Panama Canal Treaty Enabling Legislation in 1978, and the modernization of the United States Bankruptcy laws in 1978.

Harold Volkmer supported the creation of the US Department of Education.

Harold Volkmer was one of the primary sponsors of the 1986 McClure-Volkmer Act that came to be known as the Firearm Owners Protection Act.

For most of his tenure, Harold Volkmer usually skated to reelection.

Harold Volkmer faced an equally close race in 1994, when Republican assistant attorney general Kenny Hulshof held him to 50.4 percent of the vote.

Harold Volkmer lost a rematch to Hulshof in 1996 by just under 5,900 votes.