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'''Alan Dupree Wheat''' (born October 16, 1951) is an American economist, lobbyist, and [[politician]] who served six terms in the [[United States House of Representatives | U.S. House of Representatives]] from the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Missouri]] from 1983 to 1995.
'''Alan Dupree Wheat''' (born October 16, 1951) is an American economist, lobbyist, and [[politician]] who served six terms in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] from the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Missouri]] from 1983 to 1995.


==Early life==
==Early life==


His father was James Wheat, an officer and civil engineer in the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]. His mother Emogene (Jean) Wheat was a teacher. Since his father served in the USAF, he grew up in air bases and went to schools in [[Wichita, Kansas]], and [[Seville]] in Spain. In 1968, he graduated from [[Airline High School]] in [[Bossier City, Louisiana|Bossier City]], Louisiana. Wheat was hired by the [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|Department of Housing and Urban Development]] as an economist in 1972 after passing his B.A. in economics at [[Grinnell College]], in Iowa. Between 1973 and 1975 he joined the [[Mid-America Regional Council|Mid–America Regional Council]] in Kansas City for the same role. In 1975 he then became an aide to Mike White a [[Jackson County, Missouri|Jackson County]], Missouri, executive.
His father was James Wheat, an officer and civil engineer in the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]. His mother Emogene (Jean) Wheat was a teacher. Since his father served in the USAF, he grew up in air bases and went to schools in [[Wichita, Kansas]], and [[Seville]] in Spain. In 1968, he graduated from [[Airline High School]] in [[Bossier City, Louisiana|Bossier City]], Louisiana. Wheat was hired by the [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|Department of Housing and Urban Development]] as an economist in 1972 after passing his B.A. in economics at [[Grinnell College]], in Iowa. Between 1973 and 1975 he joined the [[Mid-America Regional Council|Mid–America Regional Council]] in Kansas City for the same role. In 1975 he then became an aide to Mike White a [[Jackson County, Missouri|Jackson County]], Missouri, executive.


=== Missouri legislature ===
=== Missouri legislature ===
In 1976, he won the election at age 25 to the [[Missouri General Assembly|Missouri general assembly]], at the age of 25 and stayed there until 1982.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=WHEAT, Alan Dupree {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives|url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/enwiki/w/WHEAT,-Alan-Dupree-(W000326)/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=history.house.gov|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wheat-alan-1951#A}}</ref>
In 1976, he won the election at age 25 to the [[Missouri General Assembly|Missouri general assembly]], at the age of 25 and stayed there until 1982.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=WHEAT, Alan Dupree {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives|url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/enwiki/w/WHEAT,-Alan-Dupree-(W000326)/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=history.house.gov|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Ency">{{cite news | url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wheat-alan-1951#A |title=Wheat, Alan 1951–}}</ref>


=== Campaign for Congress ===
=== Campaign for Congress ===
When Congressman [[Richard Walker Bolling]] had to retire after the [[1982 United States House of Representatives elections|1982 House of Representative election]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ehrenhalt|first=Alan|date=1981-09-28|title=Rep. Bolling to Retire, but Imprint will Linger|journal=[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois)|Chicago Daily Herald]]|pages=9}}</ref> Wheat won the Democratic [[primary election|primary]] by only 1,004 votes (11%).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Swain|first=Carol Miller|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LpSHAAAAMAAJ&q=alan+Wheat|title=Black Faces, Black Interests: The Representation of African Americans in Congress|date=1995|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-07616-7|language=en}}</ref> He went on to win the general election to succeed Bolling by beating Republican John Sharp with 58% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ruffin|first=David C|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ol8EAAAAMBAJ&q=alan+wheat|title=Black Enterprise|date=August 1986|publisher=Earl G. Graves, Ltd.|language=en}}</ref>
When Congressman [[Richard Walker Bolling|Richard Bolling]] retired at the [[1982 United States House of Representatives elections|1982 House of Representatives election]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ehrenhalt|first=Alan|date=1981-09-28|title=Rep. Bolling to Retire, but Imprint will Linger|journal=[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois)|Chicago Daily Herald]]|pages=9}}</ref> Wheat won the Democratic [[Partisan primary|primary]] by only 1,004 votes (11%).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Swain|first=Carol Miller|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LpSHAAAAMAAJ&q=alan+Wheat|title=Black Faces, Black Interests: The Representation of African Americans in Congress|date=1995|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-07616-7|language=en}}</ref> He went on to win the general election to succeed Bolling by beating Republican John Sharp with 58% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ruffin|first=David C|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ol8EAAAAMBAJ&q=alan+wheat|title=Black Enterprise|date=August 1986|publisher=Earl G. Graves, Ltd.|language=en}}</ref>


==House career and Senate campaign==
==House career and Senate campaign==


Wheat was the youngest member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] ever to be appointed to the [[U.S. House Committee on Rules|Rules Committee]], and was also the first African-American to represent a district with a non-liberal white majority. He was also a member of the [[United States House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families]]<ref name="Hearing">[http://files/eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED245830.pdf Children, youth, and families: Beginning the assessment. Hearing before the Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families; House of Representatives, Ninety-Eighth Congress, First Session]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''United States House of Representatives'', Washington, DC, 28 April 1984, Original document retrieved 19 January 2014 from ERIC at Ed.gov: Institution of Education Sciences.</ref>
Wheat was the youngest member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] ever to be appointed to the [[U.S. House Committee on Rules|Rules Committee]], and was also the first African-American to represent a district with a non-liberal white majority. He was also a member of the [[United States House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families]].<ref name="Hearing">[http://files/eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED245830.pdf Children, youth, and families: Beginning the assessment. Hearing before the Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families; House of Representatives, Ninety-Eighth Congress, First Session]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''United States House of Representatives'', Washington, DC, 28 April 1984, Original document retrieved 19 January 2014 from ERIC at Ed.gov: Institution of Education Sciences.</ref>


In 1992, Wheat drew four opponents in the Democratic primary election. He was perceived to be vulnerable due to the [[House banking scandal]] and his having been one of the House members who had made overdrafts. Wheat survived the primary and defeated Republican Edward “Gomer” Moody, who was a well-known Missouri businessman. Wheat won the general election, which also included two third-party candidates, with 59% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wheat-alan-1951#A | title=Encyclopedia}}</ref>
In 1992, Wheat drew four opponents in the Democratic primary election. He was perceived to be vulnerable due to the [[House banking scandal]] and his having been one of the House members who had made overdrafts. Wheat survived the primary and defeated Republican Edward “Gomer” Moody, who was a well-known Missouri businessman. Wheat won the general election, which also included two third-party candidates, with 59% of the vote.<ref name="Ency"/>


After [[United States Senator]] [[John Danforth]] said he would not run for re-election in the [[1994 United States Senate election in Missouri|1994 election]], Wheat chose to leave the House and instead run for Danforth's seat. The Senate race was closely watched nationally because Wheat was perceived as a candidate who could win crossover votes, as the House district he represented was 70 percent white.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wheat-alan-1951#A | title=Encyclopedia}}</ref> Wheat lost the general election to former governor [[John Ashcroft]]. [[Karen McCarthy]] was elected to succeed him in the House.
After [[United States Senator]] [[John Danforth]] said he would not run for re-election in the [[1994 United States Senate election in Missouri|1994 election]], Wheat chose to leave the House and instead run for Danforth's seat. The Senate race was closely watched nationally because Wheat was perceived as a candidate who could win crossover votes, as the House district he represented was 70 percent white.<ref name="Ency"/> Wheat lost the general election to former governor [[John Ashcroft]]. [[Karen McCarthy]] was elected to succeed him in the House.


==Post-congressional career==
==Post-congressional career==


After his Senate race, Wheat was chosen as vice president of Public Policy and Government Relations at [[Care International|CARE]]. He served as deputy campaign manager and director of constituent outreach of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Bill Clinton]]'s re-election campaign in [[1996 United States presidential election|1996]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Company|first=Johnson Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kDgDAAAAMBAJ&q=Alan+Wheat%2C%E2%80%9D+Who%E2%80%99s+Who+Among+African+Americans&pg=PA12|title=Jet|date=1996-11-04|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|language=en}}</ref> In 1997, Wheat formed the [[lobbying]] group Wheat Government Relations
After his Senate race, Wheat was chosen as vice president of Public Policy and Government Relations at [[Care International|CARE]]. He served as deputy campaign manager and director of constituent outreach of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Bill Clinton]]'s re-election campaign in [[1996 United States presidential election|1996]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kDgDAAAAMBAJ&q=Alan+Wheat%2C%E2%80%9D+Who%E2%80%99s+Who+Among+African+Americans&pg=PA12|title=Jet|date=1996-11-04|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|language=en}}</ref> In 1997, Wheat formed the [[lobbying]] group Wheat Government Relations.

⚫
Wheat joined the national law firm and lobbying practice [[Polsinelli]] in 2013, as the firm's Public Policy practice chair.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.polsinelli.com/newsevents/press-release-alan-wheat-group |title=Former Congressman Alan Wheat to Lead Polsinelli's National Public Policy Practice |date=September 16, 2013|publisher=Polsinelli, PC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125190652/https://www.polsinelli.com/newsevents/press-release-alan-wheat-group |archive-date=January 25, 2014}}</ref>


In 2021, Wheat helped found [https://www.wheatshroyer.com/ Wheat Shroyer Government Relations], a public service-oriented lobbying firm, where he currently serves as Chairman.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alan Wheat {{!}} WSGR |url=https://www.wheatshroyer.com/alan-wheat |access-date=2023-06-20 |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
Wheat joined the national law firm and lobbying practice [[Polsinelli]] in 2013, as the firm's Public Policy practice chair.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.polsinelli.com/newsevents/press-release-alan-wheat-group |title=Former Congressman Alan Wheat to Lead Polsinelli's National Public Policy Practice |date=September 16, 2013|publisher=Polsinelli, PC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125190652/https://www.polsinelli.com/newsevents/press-release-alan-wheat-group |archive-date=January 25, 2014}}</ref> He is currently a consultant with a subsidiary of the firm, Polsinelli Health Solutions, where he lobbies on behalf of health care clients at both the federal and state level of government.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://polsinellihealthcaresolutions.com/alan-wheat | title=Alan Wheat bio}}</ref>


Wheat currently serves on the board of directors at CARE.
Wheat currently serves on the board of directors at CARE.
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[[Category:Politicians from San Antonio]]
[[Category:Politicians from San Antonio]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kansas City, Missouri]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kansas City, Missouri]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists]]
[[Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Missouri General Assembly]]

Latest revision as of 20:18, 8 December 2024

Alan Wheat
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 5th district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byRichard Bolling
Succeeded byKaren McCarthy
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 26th district
In office
January 1977 – January 1983
Preceded byHarold Holliday
Succeeded byChris Kelly
Personal details
Born (1951-10-16) October 16, 1951 (age 73)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
EducationGrinnell College (BA)

Alan Dupree Wheat (born October 16, 1951) is an American economist, lobbyist, and politician who served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Missouri from 1983 to 1995.

Early life

[edit]

His father was James Wheat, an officer and civil engineer in the U.S. Air Force. His mother Emogene (Jean) Wheat was a teacher. Since his father served in the USAF, he grew up in air bases and went to schools in Wichita, Kansas, and Seville in Spain. In 1968, he graduated from Airline High School in Bossier City, Louisiana. Wheat was hired by the Department of Housing and Urban Development as an economist in 1972 after passing his B.A. in economics at Grinnell College, in Iowa. Between 1973 and 1975 he joined the Mid–America Regional Council in Kansas City for the same role. In 1975 he then became an aide to Mike White a Jackson County, Missouri, executive.

Missouri legislature

[edit]

In 1976, he won the election at age 25 to the Missouri general assembly, at the age of 25 and stayed there until 1982.[1][2]

Campaign for Congress

[edit]

When Congressman Richard Bolling retired at the 1982 House of Representatives election,[3] Wheat won the Democratic primary by only 1,004 votes (11%).[1][4] He went on to win the general election to succeed Bolling by beating Republican John Sharp with 58% of the votes.[5]

House career and Senate campaign

[edit]

Wheat was the youngest member of the United States House of Representatives ever to be appointed to the Rules Committee, and was also the first African-American to represent a district with a non-liberal white majority. He was also a member of the United States House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families.[6]

In 1992, Wheat drew four opponents in the Democratic primary election. He was perceived to be vulnerable due to the House banking scandal and his having been one of the House members who had made overdrafts. Wheat survived the primary and defeated Republican Edward “Gomer” Moody, who was a well-known Missouri businessman. Wheat won the general election, which also included two third-party candidates, with 59% of the vote.[2]

After United States Senator John Danforth said he would not run for re-election in the 1994 election, Wheat chose to leave the House and instead run for Danforth's seat. The Senate race was closely watched nationally because Wheat was perceived as a candidate who could win crossover votes, as the House district he represented was 70 percent white.[2] Wheat lost the general election to former governor John Ashcroft. Karen McCarthy was elected to succeed him in the House.

Post-congressional career

[edit]

After his Senate race, Wheat was chosen as vice president of Public Policy and Government Relations at CARE. He served as deputy campaign manager and director of constituent outreach of President Bill Clinton's re-election campaign in 1996.[7] In 1997, Wheat formed the lobbying group Wheat Government Relations.

Wheat joined the national law firm and lobbying practice Polsinelli in 2013, as the firm's Public Policy practice chair.[8]

In 2021, Wheat helped found Wheat Shroyer Government Relations, a public service-oriented lobbying firm, where he currently serves as Chairman.[9]

Wheat currently serves on the board of directors at CARE.

Personal life

[edit]

Wheat has three children.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "WHEAT, Alan Dupree | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  2. ^ a b c "Wheat, Alan 1951–".
  3. ^ Ehrenhalt, Alan (1981-09-28). "Rep. Bolling to Retire, but Imprint will Linger". Chicago Daily Herald: 9.
  4. ^ Swain, Carol Miller (1995). Black Faces, Black Interests: The Representation of African Americans in Congress. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-07616-7.
  5. ^ Ruffin, David C (August 1986). Black Enterprise. Earl G. Graves, Ltd.
  6. ^ Children, youth, and families: Beginning the assessment. Hearing before the Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families; House of Representatives, Ninety-Eighth Congress, First Session[permanent dead link‍], United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC, 28 April 1984, Original document retrieved 19 January 2014 from ERIC at Ed.gov: Institution of Education Sciences.
  7. ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1996-11-04.
  8. ^ "Former Congressman Alan Wheat to Lead Polsinelli's National Public Policy Practice" (Press release). Polsinelli, PC. September 16, 2013. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014.
  9. ^ "Alan Wheat | WSGR". Retrieved 2023-06-20.
[edit]
Missouri House of Representatives
Preceded by
Harold Holliday
 Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 26th district
1977–1983 		Succeeded by
Chris Kelly
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 5th congressional district
1983–1995 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Missouri
(Class 1)
1994 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Alan_Wheat&oldid=1261941308"