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Walter Lewis McVey, Jr.

Politician. Republican. Born: February 19, 1922, Independence, Kansas. Served in U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd District: January 3, 1961, to January 3, 1963.

Born in Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, on February 19, 1922, Walter L. McVey, Jr., attended the public schools there and the Independence Junior College, before entering the University of Kansas, where he received an A.B. in 1947 and J.D. in 1948. He was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Independence. During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps and was a member of the state house of representatives from 1949 to 1952, a judge of the Independence city court from 1952 to 1956, and a member the state senate for one term, 1957-1961. McVey unsuccessfully sought a seat in the U.S. Congress in 1952, was elected to that body in 1960 by defeating the Democratic incumbent, but failed in his bid for a second term, being defeated in the 1962 Republican primary by Joe Skubitz-the McVey defeat was largely due to redistricting, which worked to the congressman disadvantage (Kansas went from six to five congressional districts). Subsequently, McVey moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he practiced law and held a variety of public and private positions, including several with Georgia colleges.

Entry: McVey, Walter Lewis, Jr.

Author: Kansas Historical Society

Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.

Date Created: June 2011

Date Modified: May 2012

The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.