Burt Lacklen Talcott (February 22, 1920 – July 29, 2016) was an American World War II veteran and politician who served seven terms as a member of the United States Congress from the State of California from 1963 to 1977.
Burt L. Talcott
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California | |
| In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | B. F. Sisk |
| Succeeded by | Leon Panetta |
| Constituency | 12th district (1963–75) 16th district (1975–77) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Burt Lacklen Talcott (1920-02-22)February 22, 1920 Billings, Montana |
| Died | July 29, 2016(2016-07-29) (aged 96) Tacoma, Washington |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lee Taylor (m. 1942–2010; her death) |
| Alma mater | Stanford University |
| Occupation | lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army Air Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Awards | Air Medal, Purple Heart |
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Born in Billings, Montana, Talcott received his degree from Stanford University in 1942, after which he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps where he became a bomber pilot. On a mission in a B-24[1] over Austria, Talcott was shot down and captured, spending 14 months in a German Prisoner-of-war camp. Upon his discharge from the military in 1945 he received the Air Medal and Purple Heart with clusters.[2]
Talcott served on the Monterey County, California Board of Supervisors and was president of the county board. Talcott was elected to the 88th United States Congress as a Republican and served an additional seven terms (January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1977) before losing his seat in 1976 to Leon Panetta in a close race, as Panetta prevailed with 53% of the vote.[3][4][5][6]
Following his loss, Talcott engaged in a variety of private and public legislative work.[7]
He resided in Tacoma, Washington, with his son and daughter-in-law, Ron & "Gigi" Talcott. He always made time for his faith and his family. He was elected to serve on the Charter Review Commission Dist. 7 Pos. 3 of Pierce County.[2] His wife, Lee Taylor, whom he married in 1942, died in 2010.[8] He died in Tacoma on July 29, 2016, at the age of 96. Both Lee and Burt played active roles in the raising of their two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He could be found supporting his alma mater, Stanford, and making milkshake bets with his great-grandson over the outcome of their football games. The year he passed, he took a 10-hour road trip to Idaho, just to watch his 3rd eldest great-granddaughter graduate from high school.[9]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 12th congressional district January 3, 1963–January 3, 1975 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 16th congressional district January 3, 1975–January 3, 1977 |
Succeeded by |
