Marvin L. Esch

Marvin Leonel Esch
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1977
Preceded by	Weston E. Vivian
Succeeded by	Carl Pursell
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 53rd district
In office 1965–1966
Preceded by	District established
Succeeded by	Raymond J. Smit
Personal details
Born	(1927-08-04)August 4, 1927 Flinton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	June 19, 2010(2010-06-19) (aged 82) Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Olga (m. 1950)
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Michigan

Marvin Leonel Esch (August 4, 1927 – June 19, 2010) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Michigan and a member of the Republican Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1967 to 1977 before unsuccessfully seeking a seat in the United States Senate in the 1976 election. Following his political career, Esch became active in business and political activism, becoming director of public affairs for the U.S. Steel Corporation and director of programs and seminars for the American Enterprise Institute.

Biography

Esch was born in Flinton in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. He received his secondary education in Akron, Ohio, and Jackson, Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, earning an A.B. in 1950, an M.A. in 1951, and a Ph.D. in 1957. He served in the U.S. Maritime Service and the United States Army. He was a member of the faculty at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan and a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives, where he represented the 53rd district, from 1965 to 1966.

Political activity

In 1966, Esch defeated former U.S. Representative George Meader in the Republican primary elections for Michigan's 2nd congressional district. He went on to defeat incumbent Democrat Wes E. Vivian, one of the "Five Fluke Freshmen", in the general election to be elected to the 90th United States Congress. He was re-elected to the four succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1977. He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fifth Congress in 1976, but was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate, losing in the general election to Democrat Donald W. Riegle, Jr. He won 47% of the vote in that race.

Post-political career

He was director of public affairs for the U.S. Steel Corporation from 1977 to 1980, the director of programs and seminars for the American Enterprise Institute from 1981 to 1987, and a private advocate. He was an emeritus trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He was a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan.