William Alvin Pittenger

For the American Civil War soldier, see William Pittenger.

William A. Pittenger
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 8th district
In office March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1933
In office January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937
In office January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1947
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office 1917 to 1920
Personal details
Born	William Alvin Pittenger (1885-12-29)December 29, 1885 Crawfordsville, Indiana, U.S.
Died	November 26, 1951(1951-11-26) (aged 65) Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery
Party	Republican

William Alvin Pittenger (December 29, 1885 – November 26, 1951) was a United States representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district.

Biography

He was born on a farm near Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana and attended rural schools. Pittenger graduated from Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1909, and from Harvard Law School in 1912. He was admitted to the bar in 1912 and opened a law practice in Duluth, Minnesota.

State assembly

Pittenger served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1917 to 1920.

Congress

He was elected as a Republican to the 71st and 72nd congresses, serving from March 4, 1929, until March 3, 1933. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1932 and resumed his practice of law in Duluth, Minnesota. He was again elected to the 74th congress, in which he served from January 3, 1935, until January 3, 1937, but was defeated in his bid for reelection to the 75th Congress in 1936. He served again in the 76th, 77th, 78th, and 79th Congresses, from January 3, 1939, until January 3, 1947. In 1946 he lost his bid for re-election to the 80th Congress. He made one more attempt in 1950 to reclaim his old House seat, but was defeated 63% to 37%.

Retirement and death

After his retirement from politics, Pittenger again resumed the practice of law, and died in Duluth, Minnesota, on November 26, 1951. He is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery.

References

• Minnesota Legislators Past and Present
• Congressional Biography
• United States Congress. "William Alvin Pittenger (id: P000371)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.