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Owen B Pickett

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Name
  
Owen Pickett

Political party
  
Democratic

Party
  
Democratic Party

Profession
  
Politician, lawyer

Succeeded by
  
Ed Schrock

Religion
  
Baptist


Owen B. Pickett

Preceded by
  
None (district created)

Born
  
August 31, 1930Richmond, Virginia (
1930-08-31
)

Alma mater
  
Virginia Tech (B.S.)University of Richmond (LL.B.)

Role
  
Member of the United States House of Representatives

Died
  
October 27, 2010, Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States

Education
  
University of Richmond, Virginia Tech

Preceded by
  
G. William Whitehurst

Owen Bradford Pickett (August 31, 1930 – October 27, 2010) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia.

Contents

Early life

Pickett was born in Richmond, Virginia on August 31, 1930. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1952 and the University of Richmond School of Law in 1955. Pickett was admitted to the Virginia State bar in 1955, and practiced law in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Pickett served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1972 until 1986. During this time, he also served as chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia from 1980 until 1982.

Pickett was considered the unopposed favorite for the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in 1982 to run for the seat of retiring US Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr. (Ind-Va). In announcing his candidacy, Pickett paid tribute to the Byrd Organization, the political "machine" led by Senator Byrd's father, the late Virginia Governor and US Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr. The reference enraged L. Douglas Wilder, who said Pickett's glowing references to a political machine that supported segregation was unacceptable. Wilder said he would run as an Independent if Pickett was nominated by the Democrats. Convinced that Wilder was serious-and facing a likely loss in a three-way race (with GOP nominee Representative Paul Trible (Va-1)-Pickett withdrew from the race. The Democrats instead nominated Lt. Governor Richard Joseph Davis, who lost narrowly to Trible in the 1982 general election.

Congressional career

Pickett was elected to Congress in 1986 and represented Virginia's 2nd congressional district from January 3, 1987 until January 3, 2001. He was not a candidate for reelection to the 107th Congress. The Owen B. Pickett U.S. Custom House in Norfolk, Virginia was named in his honor in 2001.

Electoral history

  • 1986; Pickett defeated Republican A. Joe Canada, Jr. and Independent Stephen P. Shao, winning 49.48% of the vote.
  • 1988; Pickett defeated Republican Jerry R. Curry and Independents Stephen P. Shao and Robert A. Smith, winning 60.55% of the vote.
  • 1990; Pickett defeated Independent Harry G. Broskie, winning 77.61% of the vote.
  • 1992; Pickett defeated Republican J.L. Chapman, winning 56.03% of the vote.
  • 1994; Pickett defeated Republican Chapman, winning 59.05% of the vote.
  • 1996; Pickett defeated Republican John F. Tate, winning 57.72% of the vote.
  • 1998; Pickett was unopposed for re-election in 1998.

    • Death

    Pickett died on October 27, 2010 after several years of ill health.

    References

    Owen B. Pickett Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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